2011 Baseball - Year In Review

2011 Baseball - Year In Review

Coaching Staff
Mike Martin, Head Coach
Chip Baker, Director of Operations
Jesse Collins, Strength and Conditioning
Mike Martin, Jr., Assistant Coach, Third Base, Catchers
Jamey Shouppe, Associate Head Coach, Pitchers, Recruiting Coordinator

Click here for team picture

Click here to see individual mug shots
2011 FSU Baseball Media Guide


2011 Florida State Signees/Newcomers

Eric Arce, 5-11, 205, 1B-C-OF, Tampa

Wil Breton, 6-2, 205, OF-1B, Keystone Heights

Evan Geist, 6-2, 180, P, Roswell, Ga.

Brandon Johnson, 6-2, 205, P, Tampa

Gary Merians, 6-3, 210, P, Ocala

Peter Miller, 6-1, 195, P-IF, Lutz

Seth Miller, 6-2, 205, OF, Southport

Taed Moses, 6-1, 175, UTL, Valrico

Connor Nolan, 6-4, 196, P, Salem, N.H.

Sean O'Brien, 6-2, 190, IF, Clearwater

Adam Simmons, 6-0, 195, P, Sebring

Mack Waugh, 6-2, 180, P, Naples


2011 Roster - By Name

L
T                                                       PY
R No Name                  Pos     B-T  Hgt   Wgt  Cl   Ltr  Hometown (Prior School)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 13 Eric Arce             1B-C-OF L-R  5-11  205  Fr        Tampa (Lakeland)
* 22 Robert Benincasa      P       R-R  6-2   180  So   *    Tampa (Armwood)
* 20 Daniel Bennett        P       S-R  6-4   220  Sr   *    Tallahassee (Leon/Tallahassee CC)
* 16 Jayce Boyd            IF      R-R  6-3   185  So   *    Cantonment (Tate)
* 37 Wil Breton            OF-1B   L-R  6-2   205  Jr        Keystone Heights (Keystone Heights/Saint John's River CC)
*  7 Parker Brunelle       C       S-R  6-3   220  Sr   ***  Snellville, Ga. (Wesleyan)
* 14 Tye Buckley           P       L-L  6-0   175  Sr   *    Tallahassee (Lincoln/Seminole CC)
* 24 Brian Busch           P       L-L  6-2   237  Jr   **   Boca Raton (West Boca Raton Community)
*  1 Taiwan Easterling     OF      R-R  6-0   195  Jr-R *    Hattiesburg, Miss. (Oak Grove)
* 28 Tyler Everett         P       L-R  6-2   205  Sr   ***  Tallahassee (Lincoln)
  15 Evan Geist            P       R-L  6-2   180  Fr        Roswell, Ga. (Marist School)
*  3 Sean Gilmartin        P-OF    L-L  6-2   192  Jr   **   Moorpark, Calif. (Crespi Carmelite)
* 10 Justin Gonzalez       IF      R-R  6-2   180  So   *    Miami (Columbus)
* 51 Brandon Johnson       P       L-L  6-2   205  Fr        Tampa (Alonso)
* 32 Sherman Johnson       IF      L-R  5-10  178  Jr   **   Tampa (Alonso)
* 29 Rafael Lopez          C       L-R  5-9   197  Sr-R **   Wellington (Summit Christian/Boston College/Indian River CC)
* 25 Mike McGee            P-OF    R-R  6-0   188  Sr   ***  Port Saint Lucie (Port Saint Lucie)
   9 Stephen McGee         C       R-R  6-2   205  So   *    Port Saint Lucie (Port Saint Lucie)
* 31 Gary Merians          P       R-R  6-3   210  Jr        Ocala (Ocala/Santa Fe CC)
* 40 Peter Miller          P-IF    R-R  6-1   195  Fr        Lutz (Cambridge Christian)
* 18 Seth Miller           OF      L-L  6-2   205  So        Southport (Mosley/Northwest Florida State Coll)
   2 Taed Moses            UTL     R-R  6-1   175  Jr        Valrico (Durant/South Florida CC)
* 33 Connor Nolan          P       L-L  6-4   196  Jr        Salem, N.H. (Salem/Saint John's River CC)
*  6 Sean O'Brien          IF      R-R  6-2   190  Fr        Clearwater (Clearwater)
*  5 Jack Posey            IF-P    R-R  6-2   220  Jr-R **   Leesburg, Ga. (Lee County)
* 23 James Ramsey          OF      L-R  6-0   190  Jr   **   Alpharetta, Ga. (Wesleyan)
* 30 Hunter Scantling      P       R-R  6-8   270  Jr   **   Jacksonville (Episcopal)
* 36 Robby Scott           P       S-L  6-2   220  Sr   *    Miami (Saint Thomas Aquinas/Broward CC)
* 38 Adam Simmons          P       R-R  6-0   195  Jr        Sebring (Sebring/South Florida CC)
* 26 Scott Sitz            P       R-R  5-10  210  So   *    Jacksonville Beach (Fletcher)
  19 Gage Smith            P       R-R  6-0   180  Fr-R      Tallahassee (North Florida Christian)
* 17 Robby Stahl           OF      R-R  6-1   186  Sr-R *    Saint Petersburg Beach (Saint Petersburg Catholic/Tallahassee CC)
* 27 Stuart Tapley         IF      R-R  5-10  204  Sr   ***  Orlando (Boone)
*  8 Devon Travis          IF      R-R  5-9   183  So   *    Wellington (Palm Beach Central)
* 35 David Trexler         P       R-R  6-3   175  So   *    Lynn Haven (Mosley)
* 44 Mack Waugh            P       L-R  6-2   180  Jr        Naples (Barron Collier/Tallahassee CC)

2011 Roster - By Number

L
T                                                       PY
R No Name                  Pos     B-T  Hgt   Wgt  Cl   Ltr  Hometown (Prior School)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*  1 Taiwan Easterling     OF      R-R  6-0   195  Jr-R *    Hattiesburg, Miss. (Oak Grove)
   2 Taed Moses            UTL     R-R  6-1   175  Jr        Valrico (Durant/South Florida CC)
*  3 Sean Gilmartin        P-OF    L-L  6-2   192  Jr   **   Moorpark, Calif. (Crespi Carmelite)
*  5 Jack Posey            IF-P    R-R  6-2   220  Jr-R **   Leesburg, Ga. (Lee County)
*  6 Sean O'Brien          IF      R-R  6-2   190  Fr        Clearwater (Clearwater)
*  7 Parker Brunelle       C       S-R  6-3   220  Sr   ***  Snellville, Ga. (Wesleyan)
*  8 Devon Travis          IF      R-R  5-9   183  So   *    Wellington (Palm Beach Central)
   9 Stephen McGee         C       R-R  6-2   205  So   *    Port Saint Lucie (Port Saint Lucie)
* 10 Justin Gonzalez       IF      R-R  6-2   180  So   *    Miami (Columbus)
* 13 Eric Arce             1B-C-OF L-R  5-11  205  Fr        Tampa (Lakeland)
* 14 Tye Buckley           P       L-L  6-0   175  Sr   *    Tallahassee (Lincoln/Seminole CC)
  15 Evan Geist            P       R-L  6-2   180  Fr        Roswell, Ga. (Marist School)
* 16 Jayce Boyd            IF      R-R  6-3   185  So   *    Cantonment (Tate)
* 17 Robby Stahl           OF      R-R  6-1   186  Sr-R *    Saint Petersburg Beach (Saint Petersburg Catholic/Tallahassee CC)
* 18 Seth Miller           OF      L-L  6-2   205  So        Southport (Mosley/Northwest Florida State Coll)
  19 Gage Smith            P       R-R  6-0   180  Fr-R      Tallahassee (North Florida Christian)
* 20 Daniel Bennett        P       S-R  6-4   220  Sr   *    Tallahassee (Leon/Tallahassee CC)
* 22 Robert Benincasa      P       R-R  6-2   180  So   *    Tampa (Armwood)
* 23 James Ramsey          OF      L-R  6-0   190  Jr   **   Alpharetta, Ga. (Wesleyan)
* 24 Brian Busch           P       L-L  6-2   237  Jr   **   Boca Raton (West Boca Raton Community)
* 25 Mike McGee            P-OF    R-R  6-0   188  Sr   ***  Port Saint Lucie (Port Saint Lucie)
* 26 Scott Sitz            P       R-R  5-10  210  So   *    Jacksonville Beach (Fletcher)
* 27 Stuart Tapley         IF      R-R  5-10  204  Sr   ***  Orlando (Boone)
* 28 Tyler Everett         P       L-R  6-2   205  Sr   ***  Tallahassee (Lincoln)
* 29 Rafael Lopez          C       L-R  5-9   197  Sr-R **   Wellington (Summit Christian/Boston College/Indian River CC)
* 30 Hunter Scantling      P       R-R  6-8   270  Jr   **   Jacksonville (Episcopal)
* 31 Gary Merians          P       R-R  6-3   210  Jr        Ocala (Ocala/Santa Fe CC)
* 32 Sherman Johnson       IF      L-R  5-10  178  Jr   **   Tampa (Alonso)
* 33 Connor Nolan          P       L-L  6-4   196  Jr        Salem, N.H. (Salem/Saint John's River CC)
* 35 David Trexler         P       R-R  6-3   175  So   *    Lynn Haven (Mosley)
* 36 Robby Scott           P       S-L  6-2   220  Sr   *    Miami (Saint Thomas Aquinas/Broward CC)
* 37 Wil Breton            OF-1B   L-R  6-2   205  Jr        Keystone Heights (Keystone Heights/Saint John's River CC)
* 38 Adam Simmons          P       R-R  6-0   195  Jr        Sebring (Sebring/South Florida CC)
* 40 Peter Miller          P-IF    R-R  6-1   195  Fr        Lutz (Cambridge Christian)
* 44 Mack Waugh            P       L-R  6-2   180  Jr        Naples (Barron Collier/Tallahassee CC)
* 51 Brandon Johnson       P       L-L  6-2   205  Fr        Tampa (Alonso)
7/8/2010 - John Gast signed with the St. Louis Cardinals.
8/12/2010 - Geoff Parker signed with the Colorado Rockies.
8/16/2010 - Tyler Holt signed with the Cleveland Indians.
3/8/2011 - Eric Arce has left the team to focus on acedemics.

2011 Conference Awards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daniel Bennett           Atlantic Coast Conference - All-Conference - 2nd Team

Sean Gilmartin           Atlantic Coast Conference - All-Conference - 1st Team

Rafael Lopez             Atlantic Coast Conference - All-Conference - 2nd Team
                         Atlantic Coast Conference - All-Tournament Team

Mike McGee               Atlantic Coast Conference - All-Conference - 1st Team
                         Atlantic Coast Conference - All-Tournament Team

James Ramsey             Atlantic Coast Conference - All-Conference - 1st Team
                         Atlantic Coast Conference - All-Tournament Team

Devon Travis             Atlantic Coast Conference - All-Conference - 1st Team

All-Conference -  6

2011 All-Americans

Name                     Organization
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sean Gilmartin           Baseball America - 1st Team All-American
                         Collegiate Baseball - 1st Team All-American
                         Nat Collegiate Baseball Writers Assoc - 1st Team All-American
                         American Baseball Coaches Association - 2nd Team All-American

James Ramsey             American Baseball Coaches Association - 3rd Team All-American
                         Baseball America - 3rd Team All-American
                         Nat Collegiate Baseball Writers Assoc - 3rd Team All-American

All-Americans -  2

2011 Noles in the Pros

Name                     No      Pos                Team
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Randy Choate             35      P                  Florida Marlins
Matt Diaz                23      OF                 Atlanta Braves
Matt Diaz                23      OF                 Pittsburgh Pirates
J.D. Drew                 7      OF                 Boston Red Sox
Stephen Drew              6      SS                 Arizona Diamondbacks
Buster Posey             28      C-1B               San Francisco Giants
Scott Proctor            43      P                  Atlanta Braves
Scott Proctor            41      P                  New York Yankees
Shane Robinson           43      OF                 St. Louis Cardinals
Elih Villanueva          37      P                  Florida Marlins

Noles in the Pros -  8

2011 Schedule and Results

             
GAME DAY
OPP EOY
DATE
POST
GAME
BOX
SCORE
LOC
OPPONENT
 SCORE 
CWS
FSU
CB
FSU
BA
FSU
USA
OPP
CB
OPP
BA
OPP
USA
CB
BA
USA
02/18
Postgame
Box
H
Virginia Military
W 12-0
 
13
12
11
 
 
 
 
 
 
02/19
Postgame
Box
H
Virginia Military
W 9-2
 
13
12
11
 
 
 
 
 
 
02/20
Postgame
Box
H
Virginia Military
W 15-0
 
13
12
11
 
 
 
 
 
 
02/22
Postgame
Box
H
Jacksonville
W 5-3
 
11
10
11
 
 
 
 
 
 
02/25
Postgame
Box
H
Hofstra
W 14-3
 
11
10
11
 
 
 
 
 
 
02/26
Postgame
Box
H
Hofstra
W 16-3
 
11
10
11
 
 
 
 
 
 
02/27
Postgame
Box
H
Hofstra
W 7-0
 
11
10
11
 
 
 
 
 
 
03/01
Postgame
Box
N
Florida
Florida Four Classic, Tampa, Fla.
W 5-3
2
5
11
6
1
1
1
2
2
2
03/04
Postgame
Box
A
Georgia
W 6-5
 
5
11
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
03/05
Postgame
Box
A
Georgia
L 1-2
 
5
11
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
03/06
Postgame
Box
A
Georgia
W 7-5
 
5
11
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
03/08
Postgame
Box
H
Maine
W 10-2
 
5
8
5
 
 
 
 
 
 
03/09
Postgame
Box
H
Maine
W 9-3
 
5
8
5
 
 
 
 
 
 
03/11
Postgame
Box
H
Boston College
W 3-1
 
5
8
5
 
 
 
 
 
 
03/12
Postgame
Box
H
Boston College
W 15-6
 
5
8
5
 
 
 
 
 
 
03/13
Postgame
Box
H
Boston College
W 4-3
 
5
8
5
 
 
 
 
 
 
03/15
Postgame
Box
A
Florida
L 4-5
2
4
6
4
1
1
1
2
2
2
03/18
Postgame
Box
A
Virginia
L 3-4
3
4
6
4
6
7
5
3
3
4
03/19
Postgame
Box
A
Virginia
L 4-5
3
4
6
4
6
7
5
3
3
4
03/20
Postgame
Box
A
Virginia
W 12-11
3
4
6
4
6
7
5
3
3
4
03/23
Postgame
Box
H
Stetson
L 4-6
 
8
7
5
 
 
 
 
 
 
03/25
Postgame
Box
H
Wake Forest
W 12-4
 
8
7
5
 
 
 
 
 
 
03/26
Postgame
Box
H
Wake Forest
L 0-8
 
8
7
5
 
 
 
 
 
 
03/27
Postgame
Box
H
Wake Forest
W 11-2
 
8
7
5
 
 
 
 
 
 
03/29
Postgame
Box
N
Florida
Jacksonville, Fla.
W 5-2
2
12
7
7
4
4
3
2
2
2
04/01
Postgame
Box
A
Maryland
W 6-0
 
12
7
7
 
 
 
 
 
 
04/02
Postgame
Box
A
Maryland
L 0-5
 
12
7
7
 
 
 
 
 
 
04/03
Postgame
Box
A
Maryland
W 12-3
 
12
7
7
 
 
 
 
 
 
04/06
Postgame
Box
H
Valdosta State
W 10-2
 
12
7
10
 
 
 
 
 
 
04/08
Postgame
Box
H
North Carolina
W 5-3
5
12
7
10
9
16
7
5
5
5
04/09
Postgame
Box
H
North Carolina
L 5-8
5
12
7
10
9
16
7
5
5
5
04/10
Postgame
Box
H
North Carolina
L 6-7
5
12
7
10
9
16
7
5
5
5
04/12
Postgame
Box
H
Florida
W 3-1
2
15
11
8
5
4
4
2
2
2
04/15
Postgame
Box
A
Virginia Tech
L 1-2
 
15
11
8
 
 
 
 
 
 
04/16
Postgame
Box
A
Virginia Tech
W 15-11
 
15
11
8
 
 
 
 
 
 
04/17
Postgame
Box
A
Virginia Tech
W 18-12
 
15
11
8
 
 
 
 
 
 
04/19
Postgame
Box
H
Florida Gulf Coast
W 13-2
 
18
10
11
 
 
 
 
 
 
04/20
Postgame
Box
H
Florida Gulf Coast
W 6-4
 
18
10
11
 
 
 
 
 
 
04/22
Postgame
Box
H
Duke
W 2-1
 
18
10
11
 
 
 
 
 
 
04/23
Postgame
Box
H
Duke
W 10-3
 
18
10
11
 
 
 
 
 
 
04/24
Postgame
Box
H
Duke
W 13-9
 
18
10
11
 
 
 
 
 
 
04/29
Postgame
Box
A
Miami
W 6-5
 
12
9
8
14
16
19
22
23
24
04/30
Postgame
Box
A
Miami
W 2-0
 
12
9
8
14
16
19
22
23
24
05/01
Postgame
Box
A
Miami
L 1-5
 
12
9
8
14
16
19
22
23
24
05/03
Postgame
Box
A
Jacksonville
W 8-5
 
11
8
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
05/06
Postgame
Box
H
Central Florida
W 8-0
 
11
8
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
05/07
Postgame
Box
H
Central Florida
L 10-14
 
11
8
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
05/08
Postgame
Box
H
Central Florida
W 6-1
 
11
8
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
05/10
Postgame
Box
A
Stetson
W 13-1
 
10
7
6
19
15
22
 
 
 
05/13
Postgame
Box
A
North Carolina State
W 9-4
 
10
7
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
05/15
Postgame
Box
A
North Carolina State
W 7-5
 
10
7
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
05/15
Postgame
Box
A
North Carolina State
L 4-12
 
10
7
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
05/19
Postgame
Box
H
Clemson
W 8-6
 
9
4
6
18
18
15
21
21
16
05/20
Postgame
Box
H
Clemson
L 4-7
 
9
4
6
18
18
15
21
21
16
05/21
Postgame
Box
H
Clemson
L 5-8
 
9
4
6
18
18
15
21
21
16
05/25
Postgame
Box
N
North Carolina State
ACC, Durham, N.C.
L 0-7
 
12
7
8
 
 
 
 
 
 
05/26
Postgame
Box
N
Clemson
ACC, Durham, N.C.
W 6-3
 
12
7
8
18
14
14
21
21
16
05/28
Postgame
Box
N
Georgia Tech
ACC, Durham, N.C.
W 4-2
 
12
7
8
8
11
15
19
20
20
05/29
Postgame
Box
N
Virginia
ACC Championship, Durham, N.C.
L 2-7
3
12
7
8
5
5
3
3
3
4
06/03
Postgame
Box
H
Bethune-Cookman
NCAA
W 6-5
 
11
6
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
06/04
Postgame
Box
H
Alabama
NCAA
W 9-5
 
11
6
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
06/06
Postgame
Box
H
Alabama
First five innings played on 6/5/2011, NCAA
W 11-1
 
11
6
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
06/11
Postgame
Box
H
Texas A&M
NCAA Super Regional
L 2-6
7
8
6
6
6
7
8
8
7
6
06/12
Postgame
Box
H
Texas A&M
NCAA Super Regional
W 23-9
7
8
6
6
6
7
8
8
7
6
06/13
Postgame
Box
H
Texas A&M
NCAA Super Regional Championship
L 2-11
7
8
6
6
6
7
8
8
7
6
EOY Stats Ref

CB=Collegiate Baseball, BA=Baseball America, USA=USA Today/Coaches, CWS=College World Series

Conference games in bold

                Overall   Home     Away    Neutral
--------------------------------------------------
FSU record is   46-19    29- 9    13- 8     4- 2
vs ACC          19-11    10- 5     9- 6     0- 0
Against Top 25  12-11     4- 6     4- 4     4- 1

Final Collegiate Baseball Poll -  9
Final Baseball America Poll    -  8
Final USA Today/Coaches Poll   -  9

2011 Atlantic Coast Conference Results
 
ATLANTIC DIVISION
 1  Florida State        19-11    46-19 
 2  Clemson              17-13    43-20 
 3t North Carolina State 15-15    35-27 
 3t Wake Forest          15-15    25-31 
 5  Boston College        7-22    17-33 
 6  Maryland              5-25    21-35 
 
COASTAL DIVISION
 1t Virginia             22- 8    56-12 
 1t Georgia Tech         22- 8    43-21 
 3  North Carolina       20-10    51-16 
 4  Miami                19-10    38-23 
 5  Virginia Tech        11-19    30-25 
 6  Duke                  7-23    26-30 

2011 CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT, Durham, NC
   Date                    Score                                    Comments
==========  ==================================================  ==================================
05/25/2011  (6)Clemson 9, (3)Georgia Tech 0                     
05/25/2011  (1)Virginia 13, (8)Wake Forest 1                    
05/25/2011  (7)North Carolina State 7, (2)Florida State 0       
05/26/2011  (5)Miami 7, (4)North Carolina 5                     
05/26/2011  (2)Florida State 6, (6)Clemson 3                    
05/26/2011  (3)Georgia Tech 6, (7)North Carolina State 5        
05/27/2011  (1)Virginia 6, (5)Miami 4                           
05/28/2011  (2)Florida State 4, (3)Georgia Tech 2               
05/28/2011  (6)Clemson 6, (7)North Carolina State 3             
05/28/2011  (4)North Carolina 9, (8)Wake Forest 0               
05/28/2011  (5)Miami 4, (8)Wake Forest 2                        
05/28/2011  (1)Virginia 3, (4)North Carolina 2                  
05/29/2011  (1)Virginia 7, (2)Florida State 2                   

STARTING BATTING ORDER
DATE/OPPONENT123456789
02/18/2011
Virginia Military
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Stuart
Tapley
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Eric
Arce
Justin
Gonzalez
02/19/2011
Virginia Military
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Justin
Gonzalez
Stephen
McGee
Taiwan
Easterling
02/20/2011
Virginia Military
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Seth
Miller
Justin
Gonzalez
Eric
Arce
02/22/2011
Jacksonville
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Seth
Miller
Justin
Gonzalez
Eric
Arce
02/25/2011
Hofstra
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Seth
Miller
Justin
Gonzalez
02/26/2011
Hofstra
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Seth
Miller
Justin
Gonzalez
02/27/2011
Hofstra
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Seth
Miller
Justin
Gonzalez
03/01/2011
Florida
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Seth
Miller
Justin
Gonzalez
03/04/2011
Georgia
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Seth
Miller
Justin
Gonzalez
03/05/2011
Georgia
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Parker
Brunelle
Stuart
Tapley
Seth
Miller
Justin
Gonzalez
03/06/2011
Georgia
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
03/08/2011
Maine
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
03/09/2011
Maine
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Parker
Brunelle
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
03/11/2011
Boston College
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Seth
Miller
Justin
Gonzalez
03/12/2011
Boston College
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
03/13/2011
Boston College
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Stuart
Tapley
Seth
Miller
Justin
Gonzalez
Parker
Brunelle
03/15/2011
Florida
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
03/18/2011
Virginia
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
03/19/2011
Virginia
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Seth
Miller
Parker
Brunelle
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
03/20/2011
Virginia
Devon
Travis
Seth
Miller
James
Ramsey
Sean
Gilmartin
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
03/23/2011
Stetson
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
James
Ramsey
Sean
Gilmartin
Stuart
Tapley
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Seth
Miller
Justin
Gonzalez
03/25/2011
Wake Forest
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
03/26/2011
Wake Forest
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Parker
Brunelle
03/27/2011
Wake Forest
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
03/29/2011
Florida
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Parker
Brunelle
Justin
Gonzalez
04/01/2011
Maryland
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Parker
Brunelle
04/02/2011
Maryland
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
04/03/2011
Maryland
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
04/06/2011
Valdosta State
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Parker
Brunelle
04/08/2011
North Carolina
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
04/09/2011
North Carolina
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
04/10/2011
North Carolina
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Parker
Brunelle
04/12/2011
Florida
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
04/15/2011
Virginia Tech
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
04/16/2011
Virginia Tech
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
04/17/2011
Virginia Tech
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Stuart
Tapley
Justin
Gonzalez
Parker
Brunelle
Seth
Miller
04/19/2011
Florida Gulf Coast
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
Stuart
Tapley
Parker
Brunelle
04/20/2011
Florida Gulf Coast
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
Seth
Miller
Parker
Brunelle
04/22/2011
Duke
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Parker
Brunelle
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
Stuart
Tapley
04/23/2011
Duke
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Parker
Brunelle
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Seth
Miller
04/24/2011
Duke
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Parker
Brunelle
Sean
O'Brien
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
04/29/2011
Miami
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Justin
Gonzalez
Sean
O'Brien
Taiwan
Easterling
04/30/2011
Miami
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Justin
Gonzalez
Parker
Brunelle
Seth
Miller
05/01/2011
Miami
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Taiwan
Easterling
05/03/2011
Jacksonville
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Justin
Gonzalez
Sean
O'Brien
Taiwan
Easterling
05/06/2011
Central Florida
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Justin
Gonzalez
Sean
O'Brien
Taiwan
Easterling
05/07/2011
Central Florida
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Justin
Gonzalez
Parker
Brunelle
Taiwan
Easterling
05/08/2011
Central Florida
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Rafael
Lopez
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
Seth
Miller
05/10/2011
Stetson
Rafael
Lopez
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Justin
Gonzalez
Parker
Brunelle
Taiwan
Easterling
Seth
Miller
05/13/2011
North Carolina State
Rafael
Lopez
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Justin
Gonzalez
Parker
Brunelle
Taiwan
Easterling
Seth
Miller
05/15/2011
North Carolina State
Rafael
Lopez
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Justin
Gonzalez
Parker
Brunelle
Taiwan
Easterling
Seth
Miller
05/15/2011
North Carolina State
Rafael
Lopez
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Justin
Gonzalez
Parker
Brunelle
Taiwan
Easterling
Sean
Gilmartin
05/19/2011
Clemson
Rafael
Lopez
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Justin
Gonzalez
Parker
Brunelle
Taiwan
Easterling
Stuart
Tapley
05/20/2011
Clemson
Rafael
Lopez
Sherman
Johnson
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Justin
Gonzalez
Parker
Brunelle
Stuart
Tapley
Seth
Miller
05/21/2011
Clemson
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Taiwan
Easterling
05/25/2011
North Carolina State
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Seth
Miller
05/26/2011
Clemson
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Parker
Brunelle
05/28/2011
Georgia Tech
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Taiwan
Easterling
05/29/2011
Virginia
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Taiwan
Easterling
06/03/2011
Bethune-Cookman
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Parker
Brunelle
06/04/2011
Alabama
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Taiwan
Easterling
06/06/2011
Alabama
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Taiwan
Easterling
06/11/2011
Texas A&M
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Taiwan
Easterling
06/12/2011
Texas A&M
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Taiwan
Easterling
06/13/2011
Texas A&M
Devon
Travis
Rafael
Lopez
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Taiwan
Easterling

STARTING DEFENSE
DATE/OPPONENTPC1B2B3BSSLFCFRF
02/18/2011
Virginia Military
Sean
Gilmartin
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
02/19/2011
Virginia Military
Brian
Busch
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Mike
McGee
Taiwan
Easterling
James
Ramsey
02/20/2011
Virginia Military
Scott
Sitz
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
02/22/2011
Jacksonville
Gary
Merians
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
02/25/2011
Hofstra
Sean
Gilmartin
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
02/26/2011
Hofstra
Brian
Busch
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
02/27/2011
Hofstra
Gary
Merians
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
03/01/2011
Florida
Scott
Sitz
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
03/04/2011
Georgia
Sean
Gilmartin
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
03/05/2011
Georgia
Brian
Busch
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
03/06/2011
Georgia
Scott
Sitz
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
03/08/2011
Maine
Gary
Merians
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
03/09/2011
Maine
Hunter
Scantling
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
03/11/2011
Boston College
Sean
Gilmartin
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
03/12/2011
Boston College
Brian
Busch
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
03/13/2011
Boston College
Scott
Sitz
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
03/15/2011
Florida
Hunter
Scantling
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
03/18/2011
Virginia
Sean
Gilmartin
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
03/19/2011
Virginia
Scott
Sitz
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Taiwan
Easterling
James
Ramsey
03/20/2011
Virginia
Brian
Busch
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Sean
Gilmartin
James
Ramsey
03/23/2011
Stetson
David
Trexler
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Sean
Gilmartin
James
Ramsey
03/25/2011
Wake Forest
Sean
Gilmartin
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
03/26/2011
Wake Forest
Scott
Sitz
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
03/27/2011
Wake Forest
Gary
Merians
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
03/29/2011
Florida
Hunter
Scantling
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/01/2011
Maryland
Sean
Gilmartin
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/02/2011
Maryland
Scott
Sitz
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/03/2011
Maryland
Gary
Merians
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/06/2011
Valdosta State
David
Trexler
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/08/2011
North Carolina
Sean
Gilmartin
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/09/2011
North Carolina
Scott
Sitz
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/10/2011
North Carolina
Gary
Merians
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/12/2011
Florida
Hunter
Scantling
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/15/2011
Virginia Tech
Sean
Gilmartin
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/16/2011
Virginia Tech
Mack
Waugh
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/17/2011
Virginia Tech
Hunter
Scantling
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/19/2011
Florida Gulf Coast
Gary
Merians
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/20/2011
Florida Gulf Coast
Tyler
Everett
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/22/2011
Duke
Sean
Gilmartin
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/23/2011
Duke
Hunter
Scantling
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/24/2011
Duke
David
Trexler
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/29/2011
Miami
Sean
Gilmartin
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
04/30/2011
Miami
Hunter
Scantling
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
05/01/2011
Miami
Mike
McGee
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Taiwan
Easterling
James
Ramsey
05/03/2011
Jacksonville
David
Trexler
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
05/06/2011
Central Florida
Sean
Gilmartin
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
05/07/2011
Central Florida
Hunter
Scantling
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
05/08/2011
Central Florida
Mike
McGee
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Taiwan
Easterling
James
Ramsey
05/10/2011
Stetson
Robert
Benincasa
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Rafael
Lopez
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
05/13/2011
North Carolina State
Sean
Gilmartin
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Rafael
Lopez
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
05/15/2011
North Carolina State
Mike
McGee
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Rafael
Lopez
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Taiwan
Easterling
James
Ramsey
05/15/2011
North Carolina State
Hunter
Scantling
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Rafael
Lopez
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
05/19/2011
Clemson
Sean
Gilmartin
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Rafael
Lopez
Justin
Gonzalez
Taiwan
Easterling
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
05/20/2011
Clemson
Robert
Benincasa
Parker
Brunelle
Jayce
Boyd
Sherman
Johnson
Rafael
Lopez
Justin
Gonzalez
Seth
Miller
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
05/21/2011
Clemson
Mike
McGee
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Taiwan
Easterling
James
Ramsey
05/25/2011
North Carolina State
Robert
Benincasa
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
05/26/2011
Clemson
Sean
Gilmartin
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
05/28/2011
Georgia Tech
Mike
McGee
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Taiwan
Easterling
James
Ramsey
05/29/2011
Virginia
Hunter
Scantling
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
06/03/2011
Bethune-Cookman
Hunter
Scantling
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
06/04/2011
Alabama
Sean
Gilmartin
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
06/06/2011
Alabama
Mike
McGee
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Taiwan
Easterling
James
Ramsey
06/11/2011
Texas A&M
Sean
Gilmartin
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey
06/12/2011
Texas A&M
Mike
McGee
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Taiwan
Easterling
James
Ramsey
06/13/2011
Texas A&M
Hunter
Scantling
Rafael
Lopez
Jayce
Boyd
Devon
Travis
Sherman
Johnson
Justin
Gonzalez
Stuart
Tapley
Mike
McGee
James
Ramsey

2011 Batting Statistics

Name AVG GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP SO GDP OB% SF SH SB ATT =========================================================================================================== Peter Miller .571 9 0 7 1 4 1 0 0 3 5 .714 1 0 1 0 .625 0 0 0 0 James Ramsey .364 65 65 250 58 91 18 3 10 67 145 .580 31 8 52 2 .442 5 2 11 14 Sean O'Brien .355 20 4 31 2 11 2 0 1 9 16 .516 0 0 4 1 .333 2 0 0 0 Jayce Boyd .343 65 65 245 44 84 17 4 8 60 133 .543 36 3 33 4 .423 7 3 10 12 Devon Travis .329 60 59 231 58 76 26 0 6 33 120 .519 45 10 32 9 .455 2 3 5 9 Rafael Lopez .325 60 56 212 43 69 19 0 7 37 109 .514 36 8 36 5 .436 3 1 9 11 Mike McGee .321 64 62 234 57 75 16 0 10 58 121 .517 46 5 56 4 .436 4 1 7 10 Taiwan Easterling .296 55 35 115 28 34 5 0 1 19 42 .365 9 5 24 1 .366 2 3 6 6 Justin Gonzalez .264 65 65 231 50 61 13 1 8 40 100 .433 31 14 74 4 .380 3 2 8 10 Sherman Johnson .256 65 65 238 51 61 18 0 1 40 82 .345 59 4 50 1 .411 1 4 10 12 Stuart Tapley .232 50 48 164 28 38 4 0 7 29 63 .384 27 5 47 3 .355 1 3 1 1 Parker Brunelle .232 51 25 112 20 26 7 1 1 13 38 .339 19 6 16 3 .370 1 1 1 2 Jack Posey .222 18 0 9 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 .222 2 1 6 0 .417 0 0 0 0 Sean Gilmartin .182 32 20 22 3 4 0 0 0 2 4 .182 4 1 7 1 .321 1 0 0 0 Seth Miller .178 49 29 101 15 18 4 0 1 12 25 .248 20 6 35 3 .341 2 0 8 8 Robby Stahl .167 27 0 18 7 3 1 0 0 2 4 .222 8 0 7 0 .423 0 0 0 0 Wil Breton .111 17 0 9 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 .111 1 2 4 1 .333 0 0 0 0 Stephen McGee .111 10 1 9 1 1 1 0 0 2 2 .222 2 1 3 0 .333 0 0 0 0 Eric Arce .100 7 3 10 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 .100 3 1 1 1 .357 0 0 0 1 Hunter Scantling .000 17 12 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 2 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Daniel Bennett .000 39 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Brian Busch .000 26 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Mack Waugh .000 21 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Robert Benincasa .000 20 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Tye Buckley .000 19 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Scott Sitz .000 18 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Robby Scott .000 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Tyler Everett .000 15 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0 1.000 0 0 0 0 Gary Merians .000 13 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Adam Simmons .000 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 David Trexler .000 10 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Connor Nolan .000 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Brandon Johnson .000 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 ====================================================================================== FSU .293 65 65 2250 474 660 152 9 61 427 1013 .450 381 80 490 43 .408 34 23 76 96 Opp .247 65 65 2185 290 539 97 9 39 263 771 .353 243 48 493 43 .332 26 29 33 56

2011 Pitching Statistics

Name ERA W L APP GS CG SHO CBO SV IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR AB B/AVG WP HBP BK SFA SHA ======================================================================================================================== Tye Buckley 1.32 0 0 17 0 0 0 3 0 13.2 5 2 2 6 13 1 0 0 45 .111 3 2 0 0 1 Sean Gilmartin 2.09 12 2 18 17 1 0 3 0 120.1 92 41 28 21 130 15 3 6 440 .209 4 6 0 6 5 Tyler Everett 2.29 1 1 14 1 0 0 1 0 19.2 20 5 5 6 10 7 0 2 75 .267 1 2 0 1 1 Daniel Bennett 2.29 3 1 39 0 0 0 3 15 55.0 46 15 14 23 52 6 0 2 194 .237 0 9 0 1 4 Peter Miller 2.70 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 0 3.1 1 3 1 5 1 0 0 0 11 .091 3 1 0 0 0 Robert Benincasa 3.58 2 2 20 3 0 0 1 0 32.2 30 14 13 12 24 5 1 5 123 .244 4 2 0 2 1 Adam Simmons 3.75 1 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 12.0 10 7 5 10 6 1 0 0 44 .227 3 1 0 1 1 Connor Nolan 3.86 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 2.1 2 1 1 3 2 0 0 0 9 .222 0 0 0 0 0 Gary Merians 4.03 6 2 13 7 0 0 1 0 38.0 42 19 17 13 26 8 0 3 144 .292 0 2 0 2 3 Brian Busch 4.29 6 2 26 5 0 0 1 1 63.0 66 36 30 29 44 12 1 1 242 .273 4 2 0 3 6 Hunter Scantling 4.45 3 3 17 12 0 0 1 0 58.2 52 33 29 21 48 11 1 6 214 .243 2 8 0 1 3 Mack Waugh 4.58 2 1 21 1 0 0 2 2 39.1 45 23 20 16 31 5 1 4 155 .290 2 2 0 2 1 Mike McGee 4.68 4 3 18 7 0 0 1 5 42.1 32 27 22 33 40 7 1 5 156 .205 3 2 0 1 0 Robby Scott 4.82 0 0 16 0 0 0 1 0 9.1 3 5 5 9 9 0 0 1 31 .097 3 2 1 1 0 Scott Sitz 5.92 4 2 18 8 0 0 1 1 51.2 58 34 34 24 33 8 1 4 200 .290 1 4 0 5 2 Jack Posey 6.35 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 5.2 11 6 4 3 6 4 0 0 28 .393 3 1 0 0 0 David Trexler 7.80 2 0 10 4 0 0 0 0 15.0 19 15 13 6 17 6 0 0 63 .302 2 2 0 0 1 Brandon Johnson 18.00 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 2.0 5 4 4 3 1 1 0 0 11 .455 0 0 0 0 0 ==================================================================================================== FSU 3.81 46 19 276 65 1 0 6 24 584.0 539 290 247 243 493 97 9 39 2185 .247 38 48 1 26 29 Opp 6.52 19 46 65 65 0 3 3 7 564.1 660 474 409 381 490 152 9 61 2250 .293 65 80 10 34 23

2011 Fielding Statistics

Name PO AST E FLD% DP ============================================= Sean Gilmartin 10 14 0 1.000 1 Eric Arce 14 1 0 1.000 1 Hunter Scantling 3 12 0 1.000 0 Gary Merians 1 12 0 1.000 0 Scott Sitz 5 8 0 1.000 1 Stephen McGee 11 2 0 1.000 0 Peter Miller 3 6 0 1.000 1 Robby Stahl 6 0 0 1.000 0 Tyler Everett 0 6 0 1.000 0 Tye Buckley 1 4 0 1.000 0 Wil Breton 5 0 0 1.000 0 Mack Waugh 3 2 0 1.000 0 Adam Simmons 1 3 0 1.000 0 David Trexler 1 3 0 1.000 0 Robert Benincasa 0 3 0 1.000 0 Connor Nolan 1 1 0 1.000 0 James Ramsey 128 3 1 .992 0 Jayce Boyd 605 30 8 .988 46 Rafael Lopez 319 58 6 .984 5 Taiwan Easterling 49 1 1 .980 1 Seth Miller 47 0 1 .979 0 Parker Brunelle 147 22 4 .977 1 Mike McGee 114 2 4 .967 0 Brian Busch 4 18 1 .957 1 Justin Gonzalez 83 171 12 .955 35 Stuart Tapley 37 4 2 .953 1 Jack Posey 18 1 1 .950 0 Devon Travis 91 168 15 .945 40 Sherman Johnson 40 141 11 .943 18 Daniel Bennett 1 13 2 .875 3 Sean O'Brien 4 8 2 .857 2 Robby Scott 0 0 0 .000 0 Brandon Johnson 0 0 0 .000 0 ======================== FSU 1752 717 71 .972 58 Opp 1693 569 81 .965 55
Florida State 12, Virginia Military 0
02/18/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

0-pening Day!

'Noles secure first opening day shutout since '85 behind Gilmartin.

By Bob Thomas, seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - With a command pitching performance by Sean Gilmartin, timely hitting and perfect glove work, Florida State opened its 64th baseball season with a 12-0 shutout of VMI, Friday at Dick Howser Stadium.

Gilmartin (1-0) scattered six hits and struck out six in a walk-free performance which delivered the Seminoles their first opening day shutout victory since 1985. On an error-free day featuring a pair of big defensive plays, Mike Martin ushered in his 32nd season at the helm of the Seminoles with his third shutout victory on opening day.

"The zero in the last [error] column excites me as much as the zero our pitching staff did," said Martin. "It was a well-played baseball game on our part. We had some very good at-bats and certainly some timely hitting."

The Seminoles broke out the new BBCOR bats with a 12-hit performance, including four doubles, and produced eight two-out runs behind their junior left-hander on the hill. That was more than enough to deliver a 13th consecutive, season-opening win before a crowd of 5,539 sun-splashed fans.

"It was a fun atmosphere; a great crowd," Martin said. "I don't know when we've had better weather for opening day...Now that's over and we've got to understand this a marathon, not a sprint. We've got to be ready to go tomorrow. We can't fall in love with what happened today because this game is an everyday affair."

Still, there was plenty to like about the victory, including the performance of sophomore second baseman Devon Travis in his debut as the leadoff batter. Travis reached base three times in five plate appearances in a 2-for-4 effort, driving in three runs on a pair of two-out doubles.

Junior cleanup hitter James Ramsey added a pair of hits, including a two-run, two-out single in the fourth which pushed Florida State to a 5-0 lead the Keydets never threatened. Jayce Boyd contributed a two-out, two-run double in the third inning and No. 9 hitter Justin Gonzalez scored three times as the veteran Seminoles displayed top-to-bottom productivity.

On a team that lost just two position starters from last season's College World Series club, Travis had the dubious distinction of filling the void created by Tyler Holt in the leadoff spot.

"For day one that's not too bad, but it's just a grind," said Travis, who worked the count for a walk in his first at-bat. "I've kind of learned from Tyler that hitting first is like an art and something that you really have to work at. You have to take pride in taking those borderline pitches...Being behind Tyler for a full year was huge."

So was the performance of Gilmartin and FSU relievers Tye Buckley and Mack Waugh, who combined on the six-hit, shutout. FSU registered eight strikeouts without issuing a single free pass. Gilmartin set the tone by pounding the strike zone.

"Tonight I located the fastball in and out pretty well," said Gilmartin, who notched his second consecutive opening day victory. "That was basically my main focus, to go out there and work off my fastball with the change-up and off-speed stuff."

"They were very aggressive and a perfect opponent for Sean Gilmartin," said FSU pitching coach Jamey Shouppe. "If you're aggressive, he has that perfect change-up that can hold a team in check.

"I'll take that all year off Sean Gilmartin. What we've got to understand as a pitching staff is we can't walk people. We've got a good defense. The play (James Ramsey) made late was just an indication -everybody talks about our infield - but our outfield is pretty good too."

It took a pair of outstanding defensive plays by FSU's retooled outfield to preserve the shutout. Ramsey crashed into the right field wall to steal an extra-base hit off the bat of Cody Holder for the second out in the ninth, but the biggest defensive play came in the first.

Florida State senior Stuart Tapley, making his first career start in left field, thwarted VMI's most serious run-scoring threat in the top of the first inning. Following a pair of two-out singles, VMI's Jacob Morley followed with a single to left. Tapley came up throwing, firing a perfect one-hop strike to catcher Rafael Lopez, who gathered the ball and tagged out Graham Sullivan to retire the Keydets.

"It was a nice little boost for him (Tapley) and for us," said Gilmartin, who yielded on three hits over the next six innings. "The whole entire momentum of the game changed on that play. It put everything on our side and we took advantage of it."

The Seminoles struck first in the second on Travis' two-out double to right - the first of eight two-out runs on the day - scoring Gonzalez. Boyd's two-run, two-out double in the third, which followed walks to Ramsey and Seth Miller, gave FSU a 3-0 lead.

"Getting two-out hits are huge," Travis said. "[The coaches] stress it. When you're up at the plate with two outs, the first thing they say to you is, 'Two-out hits win ballgames.'"

Florida State finished strong with Travis driving home two more runs with his seventh inning, two-out double pushing the lead to 7-0. The 'Noles closed with five runs in the eighth inning, highlighted by senior Parker Brunelle's three-run double. A pair of freshmen - Peter Miller and Sean O'Brien - closed out the scoring with an RBI double and single, respectively.

FSU displayed patience throughout the lineup, working four VMI pitchers for 10 walks; not surprising for a program that has led the nation in walks drawn two of the past three seasons. Seven Seminoles earning free passes came around to score.

Junior left-hander Brian Busch is the scheduled starter on Saturday (2 p.m.) for the Seminoles. VMI will counter with left-hander Jason Farley.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  0  2   3  1  0  0  1
  Sean O'Brien          PH-2B     1  0  1   1  0  0  1  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        5  1  1   0  1  1  0  5
Mike McGee              CF        4  0  2   0  1  1  1  0
  Wil Breton            PR-DH     0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  2  2   2  1  0  2  0
Stuart Tapley           LF        0  0  0   0  1  0  0  1
  Seth Miller           PR-LF     1  1  0   0  2  0  1  0
  Robby Stahl           PH-LF     0  1  0   0  1  0  0  0
Rafael Lopez            C         4  0  0   0  0  0  7  1
  Parker Brunelle       PH-C      1  1  1   3  0  0  1  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  0  1   2  1  1 13  1
Eric Arce               DH        3  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Stephen McGee         PH        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Taiwan Easterling     PR-CF     1  1  0   0  0  0  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  3  1   0  1  1  0  2
  Peter Miller          PH-SS     1  1  1   1  0  0  0  0
Sean Gilmartin          P                            1  0
  Tye Buckley           P                            0  1
  Mack Waugh            P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              36 12 12  12 10  4 27 12
Opp                              32  0  6   0  0  8 24  9

E - Opp-2
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis 2 (2), Parker Brunelle (1), Jayce Boyd (1), Peter Miller (1)
HBP - Opp-1, FSU-Stephen McGee (1)
SB - FSU-James Ramsey (1), Seth Miller (1), Taiwan Easterling (1), Justin Gonzalez (1)
CS - FSU-Eric Arce (1)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Sean Gilmartin       W (1-0)    7.0  6  0  0  0  6
Tye Buckley                     1.0  0  0  0  0  1
Mack Waugh                      1.0  0  0  0  0  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  6  0  0  0  8
Opp                  L          8.0 12 12 11 10  4


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Virginia Military
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
2
Florida State
0
1
2
2
0
0
2
5
x
12
12
0
Attendance: 5,539

Florida State 9, Virginia Military 2
02/19/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Relieving Win.

Simmons comes out of pen, sparks Seminoles in 9-2 victory over VMI.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Junior Adam Simmons came out of the bullpen and into his own Saturday as 10th-ranked Florida State locked down a 9-2 victory over VMI, in front of a Dick Howser Stadium crowd of 5,183.

Simmons' debut came quickly as the right-hander from South Florida Community College replaced starter Brian Busch with two outs in the third inning and VMI runners at second and third.

"I was a little nervous at first," Simmons admitted.

It certainly didn't show. He got out of the jam enticing Keydet Jacob Morley into a first-pitch ground ball to third baseman Sherman Johnson - the first of 12 consecutive batters he retired.

"As soon as that happened, all my nerves went away," said Simmons, who earned his first career victory with 4 1/3 innings of one-hit, shutout baseball.

"That was so huge," said FSU junior James Ramsey, who paced the Seminoles 10-hit attack with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate. "One-pitch, one-out is a pitcher's best friend."

Simmons' friends in the home dugout followed his cue, as the Florida State bats came alive in well-crafted, five-run fifth inning, snapping a 1-1 deadlock.

Seminoles James Ramsey, Jayce Boyd and Rafael Lopez strung together one-out singles off VMI starter Jason Farley. Lopez, whose sacrifice fly to deep center in the second erased a 1-0 deficit, unlocked the tie with an RBI single to right. Justin Gonzalez walked, loading the bases for DH Stephen McGee, whose two-run double off the right field screen put the Seminoles in front 4-1.

Junior Taiwan Easterling, making his first start in centerfield, pushed and RBI safety squeeze single up the right side. Devon Travis followed with a run-scoring sacrifice bunt for a 6-1 lead and all the cushion Simmons would need.

"We played well," said FSU coach Mike Martin. "We weren't perfect today, but we were pretty doggone good."

Simmons set the tone, relieving Busch, who yielded four walks, three hits and a run. The right-hander pounded the strike zone - 32 strikes in 45 pitches - and mowed down 12 consecutive batters before yielding a two-out single in the seventh to VMI leadoff batter Sam Roberts.

"Adam Simmons was certainly the pitching story, the way he came in and showed great poise and pitching for his first win as a Seminole," Martin said. "I'm very proud for him. He was a guy that we expected to come in and contribute. We're very happy that he had that success today."

The Seminoles didn't waste any trouble responding to VMI's first run of the series in the top of the second. Ramsey led off the home half of the inning with a single to left, moved to third on Boyd's double to right and scored the tying run on Lopez's well-hit sacrifice to center.

"When you can start out hitting the ball the other way, it opens up a lot of the field for me," said Ramsey, who through two games is 5-for-7 at the plate. Ramsey singled to right-center in his second at-bat, then collected his first triple of the season - he led the team with six last year - into the right field corner for an RBI in FSU's two-run seventh.

Tyler Everett and David Trexler finished up on the mound for the Seminoles, who used the win to secure their 30th consecutive season-opening series.

Florida State will attempt to complete their sweep of the Keydets on Sunday, when sophomore right-hander Scott Sitz gets the starting nod and will face VMI right-hander Sam Roberts. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        3  0  0   1  0  0  1  4
Sherman Johnson         3B        3  1  1   0  1  1  1  6
Mike McGee              LF-CF     4  0  0   0  0  2  1  0
  Wil Breton            LF        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
James Ramsey            RF        3  3  3   1  1  0  3  0
  Robby Stahl           RF        0  0  0   0  0  0  1  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  1  2   1  0  0 15  0
Rafael Lopez            C         2  2  1   2  0  0  2  1
  Parker Brunelle       C         1  0  0   0  0  0  1  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  1  1   0  1  1  0  3
Stephen McGee           DH        2  1  1   2  0  0  0  0
  Sean Gilmartin        PH-DH     2  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Taiwan Easterling       CF        2  0  1   1  0  0  0  0
  Seth Miller           LF-CF     1  0  0   1  0  0  2  0
Brian Busch             P                            0  1
  Adam Simmons          P                            0  0
  Tyler Everett         P                            0  1
  David Trexler         P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              30  9 10   9  3  4 27 16
Opp                              35  2  8   2  5  4 24 10

E - Opp-1, FSU-Jayce Boyd (1)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Jayce Boyd (2), Justin Gonzalez (1), Stephen McGee (1)
3B - FSU-James Ramsey (1)
SH - FSU-Devon Travis (1)
SF - FSU-Rafael Lopez (1), Seth Miller (1)
CS - FSU-Sherman Johnson (1), James Ramsey (1)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Brian Busch                     2.2  3  1  1  4  1
Adam Simmons         W (1-0)    4.1  1  0  0  0  2
Tyler Everett                   1.0  2  0  0  0  1
David Trexler                   1.0  2  1  1  1  0
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  8  2  2  5  4
Opp                  L          8.0 10  9  8  3  4


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Virginia Military
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
8
1
Florida State
0
1
0
5
0
1
2
0
x
9
10
1
Attendance: 5,183

Florida State 15, Virginia Military 0
02/20/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Sweet Sweep.

Sitz, Seminoles slam series door shut on VMI, 15-0.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida State capped a postcard perfect season-opening weekend of baseball with a convincing 15-0 victory over VMI at Dick Howser Stadium.

The 10th-ranked Seminoles (3-0) battered six Keydet pitchers for 16 hits and rode an outstanding effort from sophomore starter Scott Sitz and three relievers for their second shutout victory in three games.

It marked the first time the Seminoles recorded a pair of shutouts victories in a season-opening series since 1985 against Armstrong State. FSU had not posted two shutouts in any series since scoring three in a 2000 sweep of Maryland.

"We just played a weekend of baseball - three nine-inning games with two errors and we had two shutouts," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "We know we have to pitch and play good defense in order to be successful. I know there is an awful lot of baseball left, but this was a good start for us and I am very proud of the way they went about this ball game."

VMI (0-3) mounted its only serious scoring threat in the third inning. Rob Dickinson rolled a groundball single through the left side and Cody Holder singled to left with one out. A passed ball put the Keydets on second and third before Sitz struck out Sam Roberts and Eric Mayers to kill the threat.

Sitz established a new career high with five strikeouts - four of them looking - over six innings, which also matched a career high. The Jacksonville Beach native did not issue a walk.

Five Seminoles collected two hits each, including sophomore outfielder Seth Miller, whose first career hit carried the right field screen for a three-run homer. Miller's blast - the first of the season by FSU - came during a five-run, fourth inning as the `Noles built a commanding 6-0 lead.

"We had runners in scoring position and [coach Martin] told me to put a good swing on it," said Miller, recounting his at-bat against VMI starter Sam Roberts. "I saw a change-up and took a big swing at it but I was a little out in front of it. Then he gave me a fastball up and in and I was right on time with it. I caught the barrel good and there she flew. I didn't feel anything when I struck that ball."

James Ramsey wrapped up an impressive weekend with a 2-for-3 performance, including a run-scoring triple in the fourth. Ramsey was 7-for-10 with a pair of triples, six runs scored and four RBI in the series. Sherman Johnson extended his team-leading hitting streak to 12 games with a 2-for-4 performance, while Justin Gonzalez was 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

Miller wasn't the only `Nole to leave the yard in the series finale. Devon Travis belted a two-run homer to left during an eight-run sixth inning when the Seminoles sent 12 batters to the plate.

While the Seminoles' offense produced 36 runs and 38 hits against the Keydets, pitching was the story of the weekend. FSU pitchers allowed only four hits and for the second time in three games they did not issue a walk.

"If you don't walk anybody and give up four hits, you've got to be pleased," said FSU pitching coach Jamey Shouppe.

Seminole relievers Robert Benincasa, Peter Miller and Daniel Bennett finished up Sitz's strong start, each facing the minimum batters in an inning of work.

Still, the story of the day was Sitz, who worked his way into the weekend rotation late last season, but finished up in the bullpen after struggling with some control issues.

"I settled in after the first inning and felt pretty much comfortable out there," said Sitz, who is now 6-0 in his young career with the `Noles. "It was like any normal practice day out here - just pound the strike zone and get people out."

Sitz threw 92 pitches - 63 for strikes - as he spotted his fastball and used a biting slider to hold the Keydets in check.

"I knew Scotty Sitz matched up well with these guys," Shouppe said. "I told my family at home last night that if he threw like he was capable of throwing, he'd go right through these guys, because his strengths match up well with their weaknesses as hitters."

It was a big boost mentally for Sitz, who found himself leaning on the offense way to frequently last season. On Sunday, he held up his end of the deal while benefitting from a breakout offensive performance.

"It seems like every time I throw on Sunday they score a lot of runs," Sitz said. "Last year they always bailed me out, but this year I'm glad I did my part and they did their part, too."

The Seminoles will return to action Tuesday at home against in-state rival Jacksonville (2-1). First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and the game will be televised by Sun Sports.

Junior college transfer right-hander Gary Merians will take the ball for Florida State and face JU senior right-hander Chris Kaminski.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  1  2   2  0  1  3  0
  Sean O'Brien          PH-2B     2  0  1   2  0  0  0  2
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  1  2   1  0  1  1  3
  Stephen McGee         PH        1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Robert Benincasa      P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Peter Miller          P-SS      1  0  1   0  0  0  2  1
Mike McGee              CF        2  1  0   0  2  0  0  0
  Taiwan Easterling     PR-CF     2  0  1   0  0  1  1  0
James Ramsey            RF        3  1  2   1  0  0  2  0
  Robby Stahl           PH-RF     1  1  0   0  1  0  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B-3B     3  1  0   1  1  0  8  0
Rafael Lopez            C         3  1  1   1  0  0  5  0
  Parker Brunelle       PH-C      2  1  1   0  0  0  1  0
Seth Miller             LF        3  1  2   3  0  1  0  0
  Wil Breton            PH-LF     2  1  1   1  0  0  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        5  2  2   1  0  1  0  4
  Daniel Bennett        P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Eric Arce               DH-1B     1  3  0   0  3  0  4  1
Scott Sitz              P                            0  2
                                 ========================
FSU                              39 15 16  13  7  5 27 13
Opp                              31  0  4   0  0  6 24  8

E - Opp-2, FSU-Justin Gonzalez (1)
2B - FSU-Sean O'Brien (1), Sherman Johnson (1), Rafael Lopez (1)
3B - FSU-James Ramsey (2)
HR - FSU-Devon Travis (1), Seth Miller (1)
HBP - FSU-Eric Arce (1)
SF - FSU-Jayce Boyd (1)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Scott Sitz           W (1-0)    6.0  4  0  0  0  5
Robert Benincasa                1.0  0  0  0  0  1
Peter Miller                    1.0  0  0  0  0  0
Daniel Bennett                  1.0  0  0  0  0  0
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  4  0  0  0  6
Opp                  L          8.0 16 15 10  7  5


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Virginia Military
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
2
Florida State
0
0
1
6
0
8
0
0
x
15
16
1
Attendance: 4,786

Florida State 5, Jacksonville 3
02/22/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Mowing Along.

Seminoles pitching staff cuts down Jacksonville, 5-3.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Nothing is coming easy - or free - for Florida State's baseball opponents four games into the 2011 season.

The Seminoles improved to 4-0 on the year Tuesday with a 5-3 victory over rival Jacksonville at Dick Howser Stadium, thanks in large part to another outstanding pitching performance. For the third time in four games, Seminole pitchers did not yield a walk, forcing the Dolphins to earn a road win.

Florida State built an early 3-1 lead, added single runs in the fifth and sixth, then held off a late charge by the Dolphins (2-2). Senior right-handed sidearm slinger Daniel Bennett picked up the save with two innings of no-hit work, capped by a called third strike on JU's Mike Parker for the final out.

"It was a good win against a good club," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "Any time you have gone through an opening weekend like we did, we know how competitive Jacksonville is. It isn't like a Florida or Miami bout, but at the same time they enjoy beating us and they played extremely well today."

Making his Florida State debut, junior transfer Gary Merians (1-0) turned in a solid five-inning effort, scattering five hits to go with three strikeouts. The Ocala native, who came to the Seminoles via Santa Fe Community College, did not issue a walk and further showed his mettle by escaping a bases loaded jam in the third with minimal damage.

Trailing 3-0, Jacksonville scored its first run in the third, loading the bases on three consecutive singles off Merians. JU's Jonathan Murphy followed with a one-hopper back to the mound. Merians fired home to catcher Rafael Lopez for a force out, but FSU first baseman Jayce Boyd couldn't hang on to Lopez's throw to first for a would-be double play. That miscue enabled Chris Moye to come around and score from second.

Merians buckled down from there, retiring the next seven batters before yielding a two-out single in the fifth. His day was complete when FSU sophomore left fielder Seth Miller reached over the left field wall to rob Murphy of a game-tying, two-run homer.

"I've always wanted to play here," Merians said. "This is the only place I've ever wanted to be. Going out there today was absolutely a dream come true. I was really nervous...

"I was glad to get out of there with a win and it makes it real easy when the defense plays the way they do. All I've got to do is let the players hit it at one of them."

Contributing to the winning cause after a sluggish opening series, Florida State All-American Mike McGee singled, doubled, scored a pair of runs and drove home the Seminoles final run with a sixth inning sacrifice fly. It was his first multi-hit game of the season.

McGee doubled to lead off the fifth and ended the day for Jacksonville starter Chris Kaminski (0-2). Jayce Boyd's one-out double pushed the Seminoles' lead to 4-1, with McGee coming around to score the eventual game-winning run.

"I was really proud the way the team stuck with it," said McGee. "It's good to get a win like this after the weekend that we had, when we were up by nine constantly. You can lose that fight that we had because you start to maybe think the game is easier than it is. It's good to get a game like this, where you're up one or two (runs) and you've got to scratch and fight your way to a win, to keep that competitive edge."

The Seminoles finished with 10 hits, including two from Devon Travis, but the real story was the collaborative efforts of Merians, Hunter Scantling and Bennett on the hill. The trio limited JU to six hits and a single unearned run over nine innings, to go along with eight strikeouts.

Redshirt junior Jack Posey entered the game in relief of Scantling in the eight; his first appearance since June 6, 2009 against Arkansas in the Super Regional. Posey missed the entire 2010 season following Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and is still working his way back to form. He was touched for two runs on three hits in the eighth, before handing the ball to Bennett, who took matters into his own hands.

Bennett sandwiched a pair of strikeouts around a run-scoring sacrifice fly to escape the eighth and mowed through the Dolphins in order in the ninth.

"Coach (Jamey) Shouppe has really emphasized this year putting pressure on the hitters; pound the (strike) zone early and put pressure on them," Bennett said. "Hitters definitely take a defensive stance when you go 0-1, 0-2 right off the bat. ... That's just a credit to our whole staff, getting ahead, staying ahead and pitching smart."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  0  2   0  1  1  1  1
Sherman Johnson         3B        3  0  0   0  1  0  0  2
Mike McGee              CF        4  2  2   1  0  1  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        3  0  1   1  1  0  4  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        3  0  1   1  1  0  7  1
Rafael Lopez            C         2  0  1   1  2  1  8  1
Seth Miller             LF        3  1  1   0  1  1  3  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  1  1   0  0  1  1  2
Eric Arce               DH        2  0  1   1  0  0  0  0
  Stephen McGee         PH        0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0
  Taiwan Easterling     PR        0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Parker Brunelle       PH        1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Gary Merians            P                            0  2
  Hunter Scantling      P                            1  0
  Jack Posey            P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              29  5 10   5  8  5 27  9
Opp                              35  3  9   2  0  8 24 12

E - Opp-1, FSU-Jayce Boyd (2)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Mike McGee (1), Jayce Boyd (3)
SH - FSU-Sherman Johnson (1)
SF - Opp-1, FSU-Mike McGee (1)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Gary Merians         W (1-0)    5.0  5  1  0  0  3
Hunter Scantling                2.0  1  0  0  0  2
Jack Posey                      0.0  3  2  2  0  0
Daniel Bennett       Sv(1)      2.0  0  0  0  0  3
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  9  3  2  0  8
Opp                  L          8.0 10  5  5  8  5


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Jacksonville
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
3
9
1
Florida State
1
2
0
0
1
1
0
0
x
5
10
1
Attendance: 4,634

Florida State 14, Hofstra 3
02/25/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Slam-n-Noles!

FSU batters Hofstra with a 15-hit attack in a 14-3 rout.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida State broke out its bats - literally and figuratively - Friday night, pounding Hofstra 14-3 behind a 15-hit attack which included three homers and four doubles.

The Seminoles (5-0) seized control from the start and didn't stop scoring until freshman Sean O'Brien capped the affair with a three-run blast to left in the eighth inning.

"It was a great feeling to get my first home run as a Seminole," O'Brien said. "Those are things you dream about growing up."

O'Brien's nightcap blast - on a 3-2 pitch off Cody Normand - came with a twist. Normand's pitch prior to the homer cracked the nob at the end of the bat, which led O'Brien to find a new weapon in the dugout.

"It wasn't even my bat, so big thanks go out to Stephen McGee, for letting me use his bat," O'Brien said. "I'm going to have to use Stephen's for a little bit."

There were plenty of offensive fireworks in the early going as the Seminoles roughed up Hofstra starter Jared Rogers for seven runs over the first two innings. Jayce Boyd's two-run double in the first got things started for the `Noles and Rafael Lopez followed with the first of his two RBI doubles for a 3-0 cushion.

Hofstra (0-4) cut into the deficit in the home second when T.J. Thomas reached on a bloop single to right and Joe Perez planted a misplaced offering from Sean Gilmartin deep over the fence in left-center.

Florida State answered back in the home half with four runs, including a one-out, opposite field homer by Justin Gonzalez - his first since March 5 of last season. With two outs Sherman Johnson singled and Mike McGee drew a walk; one of 10 on the day issued by four Hofstra pitchers.

James Ramsey worked Rogers deep in the count, then sent a shot to deep center, which caromed off the top of the wall and back into play. Ramsey wheeled all the way around the bases for a three-run, inside the park homer and a 7-2 FSU lead.

"After you start the way we did after the first couple of innings, you can have the tendency to relax, drop off, whatever you want to call it; slack off," said FSU coach Mike Martin. "But our guys didn't do that. They kept getting after it and a couple innings later we put a three spot up there. That is just a credit to continuing to play and not getting complacent because anything can happen in this game."

Not only did the Seminoles continue to swing the bats, but Gilmartin got back in a groove. The Pride scored an unearned run in the third, but never threatened again.

Gilmartin (2-0) scored his third consecutive win against the Pride in as many seasons, scattering six hits over six innings. The left-hander struck out five and did not issue a walk for a second consecutive game; facing the minimum over his last three innings. Hunter Scantling came on in relief in the seventh and retired six consecutive batters, including a six-pitch eighth inning. Daniel Bennet sat the Pride down in order in ninth, capped by a strikeout.

The combined six-hit effort marked the fourth time in five games the Seminoles have not issued a walk.

"To be successful we know that we have to get it out of all of our pitching, both starting and in the bullpen, because games are won in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings," Martin said. "We had a little cushion going into that part of the ball game, but it was good to see Scantling and Bennett come in and pitch well for us."

It didn't hurt that FSU All-American Mike McGee enjoyed his first three-hit game of the season, driving in a pair of runs. Seth Miller, Boyd and Lopez also collected a pair of hits for the 'Noles.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        2  1  0   0  2  0  0  2
  Sean O'Brien          2B        2  1  1   3  0  0  0  2
Sherman Johnson         3B-SS     1  3  1   0  3  0  0  2
  Peter Miller          PH-SS     1  0  0   0  1  1  0  2
Mike McGee              CF        3  3  3   2  1  0  3  0
  Taiwan Easterling     CF        1  0  0   0  0  0  1  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  1  1   3  0  1  1  0
  Robby Stahl           RF        0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  1  2   2  0  0  8  0
  Eric Arce             1B        1  0  0   0  0  0  5  0
Rafael Lopez            C         3  0  2   2  0  0  3  2
  Parker Brunelle       C         1  0  1   0  0  0  2  0
  Stephen McGee         C         1  0  0   0  0  1  2  0
Stuart Tapley           DH-3B     4  1  1   0  1  0  0  0
Seth Miller             LF        4  1  2   0  0  1  1  0
  Wil Breton            LF        1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  1  1   1  0  2  1  3
  Hunter Scantling      P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Tyler Everett         PH        0  1  0   0  1  0  0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  1
Sean Gilmartin          P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              37 14 15  13 10  7 27 14
Opp                              31  3  6   2  0  8 24  6

E - FSU-Justin Gonzalez (2)
2B - FSU-Jayce Boyd (4), Rafael Lopez 2 (3), Seth Miller (1)
HR - Opp-1, FSU-Sean O'Brien (1), James Ramsey (1), Justin Gonzalez (1)
SB - FSU-Sherman Johnson 2 (2), Mike McGee (1)
CS - FSU-Devon Travis (1)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Sean Gilmartin       W (2-0)    6.0  6  3  2  0  5
Hunter Scantling                2.0  0  0  0  0  2
Daniel Bennett                  1.0  0  0  0  1  0
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  6  3  2  1  7
Opp                  L          8.0 15 14 14 10  7


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Hofstra
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
6
0
Florida State
3
4
0
3
1
0
0
3
x
14
15
1
Attendance: 4,628

Florida State 16, Hofstra 3
02/26/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Mac Is Back!

McGee contributes slam, six RBI to 16-3 blowout of Hofstra.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Mike McGee has spent the past few weeks tuning up his bat in the cage with assistant coach Mike Martin, Jr. The senior All-American's performance in Saturday's 16-3 rout of Hoftrsa left little doubt that he's hitting on all cylinders.

McGee matched a career-high with six RBI on a 3-for-4 performance, highlighted by his fourth inning grand slam; his first home run of the season.

"It feels great to feel good again," said McGee, who is in the midst of an impressive turnaround week.

The eighth-ranked Seminoles (6-0) started slowly against the Pride, who jumped on FSU left-hander Brian Busch for three runs on four first inning hits.

It didn't take long for the Seminoles' experience to show up. The 'Noles scored two in the first behind a McGee RBI single and an RBI double by Jayce Boyd, then took the lead for good in the second.

Seminole catcher Rafael Lopez led off the second with a game-tying homer to right off Hofstra starter Rob Kumbatovic, who yielded a one-out walk to Seth Miller and a single to Justin Gonzalez. Devon Travis brought home Miller with the go-ahead run, bouncing into a fielder's choice.

It took a while for Busch to settle into a rhythm, but the Pride (0-5) never could regain their first-inning form. Danny Poma's two-out single in the second was Hofstra's final hit of the game.

"I came out a little nervous because the last outing was a poor outing and I wanted to throw better," said Busch. "I was leaving the balls over the middle of the plate and I couldn't locate in or out."

Busch received some defensive help to escape a problem in the third, issuing a pair of one-out walks. They nearly proved costly when Lopez was charged with a passed ball, then sailed his throw down to second into center field. Fortunately, McGee was more than willing to contribute with his arm, as well as his bat, cutting down Hofstra's T.J. Thomas at third with a perfect strike.

"It definitely felt like a weight lifted off your shoulders, especially when the guys get four runs in the first few (innings) for me and I get in a little trouble in the third and Mike throws out the guy at third base," Busch said. "That definitely takes a lot of pressure off me."

Busch (1-0) settled down from there, retiring the final seven batters he faced; good enough to earn the victory.

The Seminoles found the pressure release valve again in the fourth, scoring five times to seize control of the game. Gonzalez doubled for his second of a career-high three hits. FSU used two walks and a hit batter to make it 5-3 before McGee unloaded on a bomb which cleared the bases.

"I squared it up," McGee said. "I thought it might have gone off the screen because it was a line drive. I was kind of shocked when it went over. I was happy with it."

In addition to it being the first homer of the year for McGee, who has led the team in that category for consecutive seasons, it was the Seminoles first grand slam since McGee belted on against LeMoyne on May 2 last season.

FSU finally ended Kumbatovic's day in the fifth, adding four more runs on three walks and three hits, including a two-run double by Sherman Johnson and an RBI single by McGee. It also wrapped up the day for McGee, who enjoyed his third, six-RBI performance and first since 2009 against Wake Forest.

The Seminoles closed out their scoring with two in the eighth on Robby Stahl's RBI double and an RBI single by Peter Miller, pushing the final count to a season-high 16 runs. FSU also used a 14-hit attack to extend its streak of double-digit hit games to six this season.

Florida State head coach Mike Martin was pleased to see Busch turn things around before leaving after five innings.

"I honestly think he [Busch] just kicked himself because he was not locating the fastball, the curveball, the change - he was all over everywhere," Martin said. "He seemed to gather his emotions and his composure and went out and did the job."

Busch struck out five and allowed three earned runs before giving way to the bullpen, which continued its impressive start. Robert Benincasa worked two innings and was followed by Brandon Johnson and Mack Waugh, as they combined for four innings of hitless relief.

"The stat that blows my mind is the seven and one-third innings worth of no hits after the second inning," Martin said.

In addition to the three-hit performances at the plate by McGee and Gonzalez, the 'Noles received a 2-for-4 effort from Boyd. Sherman Johnson added three RBI to the cause for the 'Noles, who improved to 12-0 all-time against Hofstra.

FSU will send Gary Merians to the mound for Sunday's series finale against the Pride. In addition to seeking a series sweep, the Seminoles are gunning for their 20th consecutive Sunday victory, dating to the 2009 NCAA Regional win over Ohio State.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        3  2  1   1  0  1  0  2
  Sean O'Brien          PH-2B     2  0  0   0  0  0  1  1
Sherman Johnson         3B        3  2  1   3  1  1  1  2
  Eric Arce             1B        1  0  0   0  0  0  5  0
Mike McGee              CF        4  2  3   6  0  0  0  1
  Taiwan Easterling     PR-CF     1  1  0   0  0  1  0  0
James Ramsey            RF        2  0  0   0  2  0  2  0
  Wil Breton            RF        1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B-3B     4  0  2   1  0  1  9  0
  Sean Gilmartin        PH        1  1  1   0  0  0  0  0
  Mack Waugh            P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Rafael Lopez            C         2  2  1   1  1  0  4  1
  Parker Brunelle       PH-C      2  1  1   0  0  0  1  0
Stuart Tapley           DH        4  0  0   0  0  2  0  0
  Stephen McGee         PH-3B     1  0  0   0  0  1  1  2
Seth Miller             LF        0  3  0   0  3  0  0  0
  Robby Stahl           LF        2  0  1   1  0  1  2  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  2  3   1  0  0  1  1
  Peter Miller          PH-SS     2  0  1   1  0  0  0  2
Brian Busch             P                            0  2
  Robert Benincasa      P                            0  0
  Brandon Johnson       P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              38 16 15  15  7  8 27 14
Opp                              30  3  5   3  4  6 24  7

E - Opp-2, FSU-Sean O'Brien (1)
2B - Opp-3, FSU-Devon Travis (3), Sherman Johnson (2), Jayce Boyd (5), Robby Stahl (1), Justin Gonzalez (2)
HR - FSU-Mike McGee (1), Rafael Lopez (1)
HBP - FSU-Devon Travis (1)
SH - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Brian Busch          W (1-0)    5.0  5  3  3  2  5
Robert Benincasa                2.0  0  0  0  1  1
Brandon Johnson                 1.0  0  0  0  1  0
Mack Waugh                      1.0  0  0  0  0  0
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  5  3  3  4  6
Opp                  L          8.0 14 16 13  7  8


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Hofstra
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
5
2
Florida State
2
2
0
5
5
0
0
2
x
16
14
1
Attendance: 5,284

Florida State 7, Hofstra 0
02/27/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Finishing School.

Five FSU pitchers combined for Sunday's two-hit victory over Hofstra.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Making his second start in six days, Florida State junior Gary Merians didn't take his best stuff to the mound for Sunday's series finale against Hofstra.

It didn't matter.

Merians combined with four relievers on a two-hit shutout, amassing 12 strikeouts in a 7-0 victory before 4,386 fans at Dick Howser Stadium.

"If you can hold a team to two hits, you've got to like your chances," Merians said. "I don't like walking people, but I'll take that [a two-hitter] any day."

The eighth-ranked Seminoles (7-0) registered their third shutout of the season; the most in a season since matching that total in 2008. Merians (2-0) surrendered singles to Hofstra's Taylor Stuart in the first and fourth innings, and exited with a career-high six strikeouts and three walks after five innings.

Relievers Robby Scott, Tye Buckley, Mike McGee and Daniel Bennett each logged an inning of no-hit reliever. Buckley struck out the side in the seventh, while Bennett picked up two more in the ninth.

Stuart's hits were the only ones by the Pride (0-6) over the final 16.1 innings against the Seminoles in the three-game series. He was the only Hofstra batter to reach third base in Sunday's capper, singling to lead off the fourth, swiping second and moving to third on a sacrifice bunt following a Merians walk.

Merians got a strikeout and a groundout to end the threat in the fourth, then needed a diving catch from Seth Miller in the fifth and his own unassisted putout at first on a comebacker, to overcome two walks in the fifth.

"I was kind of upset with myself," Merians said. "Usually, I throw my fastball where I want to. Today I struggled a little bit, but happily enough, I got out of that jam without giving up a run.

"I have to think that coming back a little quicker, the command wasn't there. Luckily today I had a good change-up to offset the fastball that wasn't what I wanted it to be. With these guys, I can throw it over the plate and I've got so much confidence in our defense I'll let them hit it at one of them."

Defensively, the Seminoles backed the pitching staff with a flawless effort in the field. Offensively, they registered their seventh consecutive double-digit hits game and continued their trend of producing with two outs.

Jayce Boyd's two-out RBI single to right staked the Seminoles to a 1-0 lead against Hofstra starter David D'Errico in the first. FSU tacked on a run in a second, courtesy a walk and back-to-back singles by Devon Travis and Sherman Johnson.

Johnson, who enjoyed a career-high 4-for-4 performance, drove home Justin Gonzalez. The junior third baseman was happy break what he described as a "mental block" by reaching four hits for the first time. His previous career-high was three hits, which he had accomplished seven times.

"I've never had four hits and like (assistant coach Mike Martin, Jr.) always stresses, when you're having a good day you can't give away at-bats because you're going to want them back at the end of the season," Johnson said, who walked in his final at-bat.

FSU head coach Mike Martin appreciated Johnson's patient contributions at the plate.

"Sherman obviously had some very good swings. What impressed me was his last at-bat, after going 4-for-4 and didn't rush into anything trying to get five. He just stayed disciplined and ended up walking. It is quite a credit to him."

With Merians holding the Pride at bay, the Seminoles finally got some breathing room, with a little help from their Long Island, N.Y. visitors. They parlayed a walk, two singles and a pair of Hofstra errors into a two-run fourth, pushing their lead to 4 It could have been much easier. FSU stranded 11 base runners - seven in scoring position - through the first seven innings. Mike McGee, who set down the Pride in order in his first pitching appearance in the top of the eighth, predictably put an end to the LOB issue in the home half of the inning. He hammered a Stephan Kungl offering over the left field fence for a two-run homer - his second of the weekend.

Since the start of last season, McGee has now homered in eight games when he's made a mound appearance.

"When I came into the dugout after I hit that, the guys said, 'I saw that coming,'" McGee said, cracking a smile.

Taiwan Easterling capped the scoring with an RBI ground rule double - his first career extra base hit - later in the eighth for the final margin.

After coming through seven games unscathed, the Seminoles are about to embark on their toughest test yet on Tuesday at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, when they take on rival Florida in the second game of the Florida Four Classic. The Gators are ranked No. 1 in two of four major national polls heading into the contest, which is scheduled to start around 7 p.m. and be televised on CSS.

"You want to get that confidence built up as a team and that feeling of a winning club," McGee said, following the Hofstra sweep. "When you go into every game knowing you have a shot, it helps your team a lot."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  1  1   0  1  0  0  1
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  2  4   1  1  0  0  5
Mike McGee              CF-P      4  2  1   2  1  1  0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  0  3   1  1  0  1  0
  Robby Stahl           PR-RF     0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        5  0  1   1  0  1 11  0
Rafael Lopez            C         2  0  0   0  2  0  8  1
  Parker Brunelle       C         0  0  0   0  1  0  2  2
Stuart Tapley           DH        4  0  0   0  0  3  0  0
  Taiwan Easterling     CF        1  0  1   1  0  0  0  0
Seth Miller             LF        4  0  0   0  0  1  3  0
  Eric Arce             PH        1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
  Wil Breton            LF        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  1  0   0  1  2  1  1
Gary Merians            P                            1  1
  Robby Scott           P                            0  0
  Tye Buckley           P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              36  7 11   6  8  9 27 11
Opp                              28  0  2   0  4 12 24  8

E - Opp-2
2B - FSU-Sherman Johnson (3), Taiwan Easterling (1)
HR - FSU-Mike McGee (2)
SH - Opp-1
SB - Opp-2, FSU-Sherman Johnson (3), James Ramsey (2), Rafael Lopez 2 (2)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Gary Merians         W (2-0)    5.0  2  0  0  3  6
Robby Scott                     1.0  0  0  0  1  0
Tye Buckley                     1.0  0  0  0  0  3
Mike McGee                      1.0  0  0  0  0  1
Daniel Bennett                  1.0  0  0  0  0  2
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  2  0  0  4 12
Opp                  L          8.0 11  7  6  8  9


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Hofstra
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
Florida State
1
1
0
2
0
0
0
3
x
7
11
0
Attendance: 4,386

Florida State 5, Florida 3
03/01/2011, Florida Four Classic, Tampa, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com

No. 1 Undone!

Seminoles take down top-ranked Florida in Tampa, 5-3.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TAMPA, FL - The opportunity to knock off the top-ranked team in college baseball doesn't come often, but it did come early for Mike Martin's Florida State team.

And the Seminoles (8-0) didn't waste it.

Fifth-ranked FSU parlayed a five-run third inning into a 5-3 victory over consensus No. 1 Florida in Tuesday's Florida Four Classic night-cap at Steinbrenner Field.

Mike McGee came out of center field to close down the win, striking out the side in the bottom of the ninth for his first save of the season.

"It was so loud here, you can't not have adrenaline," McGee said.

In front of a Seminole-heavy crowd of 7,869, Martin's club handed the Gators (7-1) their first defeat of the season, winning for the fifth time in the last six meetings with their in-state rivals.

"It was great for college baseball," said FSU coach Mike Martin of the meeting between unbeaten top 10 teams. "It's always going to be intense. It's Florida-Florida State - that's all you have to say. No matter what the records are, it's just a fun atmosphere. Tonight was just electric."

The Seminoles put a charge into Florida in the third inning, chasing starter Tommy Toledo when Justin Gonzalez singled, Devon Travis doubled and Mike McGee drew a walk to load the bases. At that point Gators turned to left-hander Alex Panteliodis to face left-handed clean-up hitter James Ramsey.

Ramsey promptly lined a single off Panteliodis' leg, which caromed into foul territory. Florida first baseman Austin Maddox's toss to Panteliodis covering the bag was off target - hitting Ramsey in the head - as Travis chased home Gonzalez for a 2-0 lead. Jayce Boyd followed with a two-run triple off the into a 30 mph wind and off the left field fence for a 4-0 cushion.

Martin called it one of the hardest balls he's seen hit in his 32 seasons as the Seminoles' coach.

"He turned the wind around, literally," he said. "Shockingly, it didn't get out."

"To go first pitch and hit a ball as hard as I did, it was a good feeling," Boyd said of his blast, which proved to be the winning blow. "I was surprised it didn't, but I wasn't at the same time. The wind was howling. I knew I hit it good when I saw it come off the bat."

Designated hitter Stuart Tapley, battling an 0-for-9 slump, countered with a two-out RBI single to center for the Seminoles all-important fifth run. The five-run cushion stood up behind a solid pitching performance from the FSU staff.

Seminoles' starter Scott Sitz (2-0) turned in five solid, scattering four hits and departing with a 5-1 lead - good enough to earn his second consecutive victory over the Gators.

"Sitz had a pretty good outing," Martin said. "He had good command of both sides of the plate. The slider was just missing, but he did a good job of keeping Florida off balance."

Sitz was replaced by staff ace Sean Gilmartin, who was scheduled to throw a bullpen session. The Gators promptly parlayed three hits, a walk and an error into a pair of sixth-inning runs, trimming the deficit to 5-3. Gilmartin struck out a pair, including Zack Powers with runners at first and second to end the inning and kill Florida's last threat of the night.

Daniel Bennett, who worked two innings of no-hit relief, and McGee tag-teamed to retire the final nine Florida batters in order.

Gonzalez led FSU's eight-hit attack with a pair of singles as the Seminoles season-starting streak of double-digit hits was snapped at seven by four Florida pitchers.

Following their sixth game in eight days, the Seminoles will get a short reprieve before heading to Athens, Ga. for a weekend, three-game set with Georgia. It is FSU's first visit to Foley Field since falling to the Bulldogs in the 2006 NCAA Super Regional.

Gilmartin is the scheduled starter for the series opener as the Seminoles aim to extend a five-game winning streak against the Bulldogs.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        5  1  1   0  0  0  1  8
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  0  1   0  1  1  1  2
Mike McGee              CF-P      3  1  0   0  2  0  1  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  1  1   1  0  2  1  1
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  1  1   2  1  0 14  0
Rafael Lopez            C         3  0  0   0  1  1  6  1
Stuart Tapley           DH        4  0  1   1  0  1  0  0
  Taiwan Easterling     CF        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Seth Miller             LF        4  0  0   0  0  2  1  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  1  2   0  0  1  2  4
Scott Sitz              P                            0  0
  Sean Gilmartin        P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              34  5  7   4  5  8 27 16
Opp                              32  3  7   3  4  7 27 12

E - Opp-2, FSU-Devon Travis (1)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (4)
3B - FSU-Jayce Boyd (1)
HBP - FSU-James Ramsey (1), Justin Gonzalez (1)
SB - FSU-Rafael Lopez (3)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Scott Sitz           W (2-0)    5.0  4  1  1  3  1
Sean Gilmartin                  1.0  3  2  1  1  2
Daniel Bennett                  2.0  0  0  0  0  1
Mike McGee           Sv(1)      1.0  0  0  0  0  3
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  7  3  2  4  7
Opp                  L          9.0  7  5  4  5  8


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
7
1
Florida
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
0
3
7
2
Attendance: 7,869

Florida State 6, Georgia 5
03/04/2011, Athens, Ga.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Close Call.

Gilmartin's brilliance rewarded with 9th inning escape at Georgia.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

ATHENS, GA - Florida State junior pitcher Sean Gilmartin continued his career-long mastery of Georgia Friday night at chilly Foley Field, but it nearly wasn't enough for the Seminoles.

Gilmartin's brilliance - a career-high 11 strikeouts over eight innings of one-hit, shutout work - was nearly overshadowed by Georgia's ninth inning rally. The Bulldogs scored five times against the Seminoles previously impervious bullpen before Daniel Bennett struck out Curt Powell with the bases loaded to preserve the 6-5 victory.

"I was proud of the way we kept our composure and got it done," said FSU coach Mike Martin, who turned to his bullpen in the ninth after Gilmartin's 99-pitch effort. "Things like this can happen. That's what walks will do for you. We walked a couple guys to start the inning and all of a sudden they start feeling good; a couple of balls are just out of reach.

"We did not make any mistakes...There's no finger-pointing. We fought and we held on."

With his third career victory against the Bulldogs, Gilmartin moved to 3-0 on the season for the fifth-ranked Seminoles (9-0). In 24 career innings against Georgia, Gilmartin has struck out 25, issued one walk, yielded 12 hits, hit one batter and allowed two earned runs.

Gilmartin had no real explanation for his success against in three starts against the Bulldogs (2-7).

"It's just one of those things," he said. "Baseball's that way. Some teams you don't do too well against and other teams you go out there and have a game like this."

Mike McGee and Jayce Boyd supplied the power, belting two-out, two-run homers in a four-run fifth inning off Georgia starter Alex Wood (0-2) for a 6-0 lead. McGee's third homer of the season, which followed a walk to Devon Travis, snuck just inside the right field foul pole.

Wood's next pitch hit FSU clean-up hitter James Ramsey in the back and brought both coaches from the dugout. Georgia coach Dave Perno made a mound visit and FSU coach Mike Martin held a conversation with home plate umpire Steve Manders.

After the discussions concluded, Boyd sent Wood's next offering over the left field fence into the hedges for a 6-0 cushion.

"Mike hits the home run and Ramsey get pegged," Boyd said. "You don't know whether it was intentional or not, but it kind of [ticks] you off and you just want to get back at them. The best way to do it is put numbers up on the board. That's what happened."

The Seminoles staked Gilmartin to a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and second off Georgia starter Alex Wood.

Travis opened the game with a leadoff double down the left field line, moved to third on Sherman Johnson's sacrifice bunt and scored on Ramsey's two-out, RBI single to right. It was the team-leading seventh two-out RBI of the season by the Alpharetta, Ga. native.

All six Seminole runs were scored with two outs, continuing an early season trend. Of FSU's 89 runs scored this season, 40 have come with two outs.

Florida State doubled its lead in the second when Stuart Tapley stroked a one-out single to second and Justin Gonzalez dropped down a two-out bunt single. Travis followed with an infield chopper over Wood's head. Georgia shortstop Kyle Farmer was unable to come up with a bare-handed grab - Travis was credited with an infield single - enabling Tapley to score from second for a 2-0 lead.

Timely production aside, Gilmartin's performance was the story of the game.

"It (was) beautiful," Martin said. "He had all three pitches, threw the fastball to both sides of the plate. Giving a club like this one hit in eight innings is an unbelievable accomplishment. I'm just very proud that he got credit for an outing like this, because he certainly deserved. That would have been some kind of shame for him to not get what he deserved."

Georgia catcher Brandon Stephens' two-out single to right in fifth was the lone hit the Bulldogs could muster off the left-hander.

The ninth inning was an entirely different story. Brandon Johnson relieved Gilmartin and walked the first two batters on eight pitches and was replaced by Bennett. The Bulldogs pecked away at the deficit with five singles - two of the infield variety - and a bases loaded hit batter that forced in a run. Johnathan Taylor's two-out RBI single to left cut the FSU lead to 6-5.

Bennett finally ended it, striking out Powell.

"It's very, very important to get it done when we had our backs to the wall for the first time this year," Martin said.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  2  3   0  1  0  1  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        2  0  0   0  1  1  1  0
Mike McGee              CF        4  1  1   2  0  0  3  0
James Ramsey            RF        2  1  1   1  1  0  2  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  1  1   2  0  1  4  2
Rafael Lopez            C         4  0  0   0  0  1 12  1
Stuart Tapley           DH        4  1  1   0  0  1  0  0
Seth Miller             LF        2  0  0   0  1  1  1  0
  Eric Arce             PH        1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Robby Stahl           LF        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Taiwan Easterling     LF        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  0  1   0  1  1  2  2
Sean Gilmartin          P                            1  0
  Brandon Johnson       P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              30  6  8   5  5  6 27  5
Opp                              33  5  6   4  3 13 27 13

E - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (2)
2B - FSU-Devon Travis (5)
HR - FSU-Mike McGee (3), Jayce Boyd (1)
HBP - Opp-2, FSU-James Ramsey (2)
SH - FSU-Sherman Johnson (2)
SB - FSU-Seth Miller (2)
CS - FSU-Devon Travis (2), James Ramsey (2)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Sean Gilmartin       W (3-0)    8.0  1  0  0  1 11
Brandon Johnson                 0.0  0  2  2  2  0
Daniel Bennett                  1.0  5  3  3  0  2
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  6  5  5  3 13
Opp                  L          9.0  8  6  5  5  6


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
1
1
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
6
8
1
Georgia
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
5
6
1
Attendance: 1,784

Georgia 2, Florida State 1
03/05/2011, Athens, Ga.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Dawg Gone Tough One.

Brunelle homers in first start, but 'Noles suffer first defeat, 2-1.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

ATHENS, GA - One day after scoring six runs with two outs, Florida State failed to win the battle of timely hitting on a cool and damp Saturday afternoon at Foley Field.

Georgia broke a 1-1 deadlock with a run in the seventh to hand the fifth-ranked Seminoles (9-1) their first loss of the season, 2-1. In the process, the Bulldogs (3-7) snapped a six-game series losing streak at the hands of FSU.

Peter Verdin tripled to start the home seventh for the Bulldogs and scored on Johnathan Taylor's sacrifice fly to center off reliever Mack Waugh (0-1), who was saddled with the loss.

"They did a very good job of getting it done in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings when we had a chance to do something," FSU coach Mike Martin said of the host Bulldogs. "Take your hat off to them and move to tomorrow."

The Bulldogs prevailed behind an outstanding collective pitching effort from starter Michael Palazzone and relievers Patrick Boling and Tyler Maloof. The combined for 10 strikeouts and limited the Seminoles to seven hits. FSU was out-hit for the first time this season, 8-7.

FSU squandered a chance to overcome a 2-1 deficit in the top of the eighth when Justin Gonzalez walked and Devon Travis reached on an infield single off Boling. Both runners moved up on a passed ball before Boling struck out Sherman Johnson.

Georgia coach Dave Perno elected to walk FSU slugger Mike McGee (3-for-3) to load the bases, then watched Boling strike out James Ramsey and Jayce Boyd to kill the threat.

"I thought we'd at least get one out of it to tie it up," Martin said. "I didn't think there were too many guys who could go 'boom, boom, boom' to those three hitters that he struck out. Take your hat off to Boling. He did a good job."

The Seminoles threatened again in the ninth as pinch-hitter Rafael Lopez looped a leadoff single to right-center and pinch-hitter Stephen McGee worked Boling for a one-out walk. That's when the Bulldogs turned to their closer - Maloof - who struck out Gonzalez and Travis to seal the win and earn the save.

Florida State's lone run of the game came in the second inning.

Seminoles' senior Parker Brunelle, from nearby Snellville, Ga., made the most of his first start of the season. The switch-hitting catcher sent the first pitch he saw from Georgia right-hander Michael Palazzone over the right field fence, staking FSU starter Brian Busch to a 1-0 lead.

It was Brunelle's first homer since April 9 of last season at Wake Forest.

"It was good for me and great for the team," Brunelle said. "It was nice to be able to come back home - I know a bunch of those guys over there [in the Georgia dugout] - so that was a fun little thing for me, to help the team."

In front of a host of family and friends, Brunelle's blast came against his former Wesleyan School teammate.

"I actually played with Palazzone back in high school and I know him pretty well and caught him a lot," Brunelle said. "It didn't surprise me that he was going to come after me. I saw it coming out of his hands pretty well. It was a good looking pitch and I wanted to jump, but I told myself to sit back a little bit and get a good first swing. I got lucky enough to put it over the fence."

Palazzone settled down nicely after that, yielding only a pair of singles to McGee and a Travis double to earn his first win of the season.

Georgia tied the game in the fifth on Levi Hyams' two-out double to right field.

FSU starter Brian Busch left after five innings, yielding one earned run on six hits. The junior left-hander struck out two and issued just one walk.

"Brian had the best curveball I've seen him have in his three years here," Martin said. "I was very, very pleased with his outing."

Florida State will headed into the series rubber-match trying to extend their streak of 20 consecutive Sunday victories. Right-hander Scott Sitz (2-0) will try and earn his second victory of the week after knocking off No. 1 Florida on Tuesday.

"This is one of those games early in the season that's a good test for our team, to see what we'll do tomorrow," said Brunelle. "We didn't hit very well, but it will be good to see what we can do tomorrow...and see how we bounce back after a loss like this."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        5  0  2   0  0  2  2  1
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  0  0   0  0  2  1  3
Mike McGee              CF        3  0  3   0  1  0  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  0  0   0  0  2  1  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  0  0   0  0  2  9  1
Parker Brunelle         C         3  1  1   1  0  0  4  1
  Rafael Lopez          PH        1  0  1   0  0  0  0  0
Stuart Tapley           DH        4  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Seth Miller             LF        3  0  0   0  0  1  2  0
  Stephen McGee         PH        0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0
  Taiwan Easterling     PR        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  0  0   0  1  1  2  3
Brian Busch             P                            1  2
  Mack Waugh            P                            0  1
  Tye Buckley           P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              34  1  7   1  3 10 24 12
Opp                              30  2  8   2  1  4 27  8

E - Opp-1, FSU-Justin Gonzalez (3)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (6)
3B - Opp-1
HR - FSU-Parker Brunelle (1)
SH - Opp-1
SF - Opp-1
CS - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Brian Busch                     5.0  6  1  1  1  2
Mack Waugh           L (0-1)    1.1  2  1  1  0  0
Tye Buckley                     1.0  0  0  0  0  1
Daniel Bennett                  0.2  0  0  0  0  1
                               ===================
FSU                             8.0  8  2  2  1  4
Opp                  W-Sv       9.0  7  1  1  3 10


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
7
1
Georgia
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
x
2
8
1
Attendance: 2,205

Florida State 7, Georgia 5
03/06/2011, Athens, Ga.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Series Winner.

Seminoles rally past Georgia for 7-5 series win.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

ATHENS, GA - In a day which ran a gamut of emotions for both clubs, Florida State escaped Georgia and Foley Field with a 7-5 victory, clinching the three-game series.

The fifth-ranked Seminoles (10-1) scored all seven runs over the final five innings, twice overcoming deficits, then held off the Bulldogs' fierce ninth inning rally.

FSU closer Mike McGee earned his second save of the season, striking out three Bulldogs (3-8) in the ninth, including Lance Martin and Chase Davidson with the bases loaded to seal it.

The dramatic victory was tempered by a serious neck injury to Georgia centerfielder Johnathan Taylor. Taylor collided with left fielder Zach Cone as both players dove head-first for Devon Travis fly ball in the gap. He was transported by ambulance from the field.

"I'm just worried about that young man," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "That's just heart-breaking. I've seen two people run together before...but that one was just a nightmare."

Trailing 4-3 heading into the top of the seventh, the Seminoles manufactured a three-run frame at the expense of some erratic Georgia relief pitching. Taiwan Easterling earned a leadoff walk from John Herman, who replaced Blake Dieterich. Travis grounded a ball up the middle that was bobbled, putting runners at first and second for Sherman Johnson, whose second RBI single of the game tied the score at 4-all.

A run-scoring ground out by McGee, sandwiched around a passed ball and two Dieterich wild pitches gave the 'Noles a 6-4 lead.

Travis came around to score an insurance run on a ninth inning wild pitch for what appeared to be a comfortable 7-4 cushion.

Florida State relievers Robert Benincasa and Daniel Bennett helped restore order after the Bulldogs scored three runs in the sixth inning to take a 4-3 lead. Benincasa (1-0), got the final out in the sixth and retired the Bulldogs in order in the seventh, before yielding to Bennett to start the eighth. Making his third appearance of the series, Bennett made short work of the Bulldogs in a 1-2-3 frame.

McGee entered the game with a three-run cushion and coming off a strikeout-the-side save against No. 1 Florida on Tuesday. He got off to a quick start by retiring Austin Wheeler on strikes. Georgia followed with a pair of infield singles to shortstop, before McGee issued consecutive walks, forcing home a run.

With the bases loaded and the Foley Field crowd of 2,448 urging the Bulldogs on, Martin left the bat on his shoulder as he watched McGee's third-strike curveball find the mind.

Davidson, who homered in the first and doubled in the sixth, stepped in. It was an eerily similar position to the one McGee faced against TCU's Matt Curry in FSU's final game of the 2010 season at the College World Series.

"I had a little flashback to last year," McGee confessed. "They had the bases loaded, a 3-2 count, a big lefty up and they called a slider, just like last year."

Curry hit a grand slam. Davidson did not.

"It was nice to get the out," McGee said. "I hadn't thrown him a slider yet in that at-bat...He hadn't seen it yet and it kind of played to my hand."

McGee's backdoor slider hit the spot and home plate umpire Danny Everett's right-hand fist pump led a Seminole celebration.

"They're a great team," Travis said of the host Bulldogs. "Their record lies. They're a ton better than that record. These tests late in the game definitely showed a little bit about our character."

FSU flashed its first signs of character-building in the fifth inning. Trailing 2-0, the 'Noles had managed just one hit off Georgia starter Craig Gullickson when Stuart Tapley led off with an infield single. Gullickson retired the next two batters before Travis smoked his team-leading seventh double down the left field line, scoring Tapley from first. Johnson's RBI single through the right side of the infield tied the game at 2-all.

Johnson moved up on a wild pitch before McGee put the Seminoles in front for the first time with an RBI double to left center. McGee's team-leading 14th RBI of the season ended Gullickson's day.

"Any time you're on the road in the SEC or the ACC, to win two out of three, you've accomplished something," Martin said. "This was a big weekend for us to come up and win it. It was just a credit to our young men to get it done."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        3  3  1   1  2  0  2  2
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  2  2   2  1  0  1  3
Mike McGee              CF-P      5  0  2   2  0  1  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  0  0   0  1  2  3  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        2  0  1   0  3  0  9  0
Rafael Lopez            C         5  0  0   0  0  0  6  0
Stuart Tapley           DH        3  1  1   0  1  2  0  0
  Seth Miller           PR-LF     0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  0  0   0  0  0  2  3
Taiwan Easterling       LF-CF     3  1  0   0  1  0  2  0
Scott Sitz              P                            0  1
  Tye Buckley           P                            0  0
  Adam Simmons          P                            0  0
  Robert Benincasa      P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              33  7  7   5  9  5 27  9
Opp                              34  5  9   5  4  6 27  8

E - Opp-1
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (7), Mike McGee (2)
HR - Opp-1
HBP - Opp-1
SF - Opp-1
SB - FSU-Jayce Boyd (1), Seth Miller (3)
CS - FSU-Jayce Boyd (1)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Scott Sitz                      5.1  5  2  2  1  2
Tye Buckley                     0.0  1  1  1  0  0
Adam Simmons                    0.1  1  1  1  1  0
Robert Benincasa     W (1-0)    1.1  0  0  0  0  1
Daniel Bennett                  1.0  0  0  0  0  0
Mike McGee           Sv(2)      1.0  2  1  1  2  3
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  9  5  5  4  6
Opp                  L          9.0  7  7  5  9  5


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
0
0
0
0
3
0
3
0
1
7
7
0
Georgia
0
1
1
0
0
2
0
0
1
5
9
1
Attendance: 2,448

Florida State 10, Maine 2
03/08/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Boyd Bearing Down.

Sophomore slugger drive in four two-out runs in 10-2 romp of Maine.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - If you're within earshot of the Florida State baseball dugout during any game, you've likely heard Seminole coach Mike Martin's constant reminder:

"Two-out hits win ballgames."

Heeding Martin's words, sophomore first baseman Jayce Boyd has been extending innings and driving in runs at an incredible pace through the first dozen games for the fifth-ranked Seminoles.

Boyd extended his team lead in two-out run production Tuesday night, driving in four runs in a 3-for-4 performance which helped the Seminoles (11-1) to a 10-2 win over Maine at Dick Howser Stadium.

All three of Boyd's hits came with two outs, but his two-run singles in the first and second innings enabled FSU to get off to a 6-0 start which the road weary Black Bears (3-10) never threatened.

"We got good pitching out of [starter Gary] Merians and played errorless baseball," Martin said. "And that's very encouraging. From a coaching standpoint, that's encouraging to see a team come off of a week in which we played Florida, Georgia ... it was gratifying to watch us play tonight."

Merians (3-0) remained perfect on the season with five solid innings, yielding two earned runs on six hits. FSU relievers Tyler Everett, Jack Posey, Robby Scott and Mack Waugh each worked an inning to close out the contest. Maine managed one hit off the quartet, which combined for six strikeouts without issuing a free pass.

It was an enviable late-inning situation to be in, thanks to the Seminoles' continued two-out run production, led by Boyd. Through 12 games the FSU has scored 107 runs; 51 of which have been driven in or scored with two outs after pushing eight two-out runs across the plate against the Black Bears.

Boyd pushed his team-leading total to 12 two-out RBI with his first two singles and tacked out a two-out double in the fourth. He is now 10-for-19 on the season when batting with two outs.

"There's a little more pressure because you know if you don't get the hit the inning is over, but at the same time you have to stay within yourself," Boyd said. "It's all about your teammates and when they put you in the situation, to know that they count on you and rely on you to produce in the two-out situations. It's something important to me and I take a lot of pride in it."

Martin attributes much of Boyd's success to the maturity he gained as a freshman starter last season.

"He's getting to understand the game better and getting some good swings," Martin said. "There's something to be said about a guy who drives in runs, especially two-out runs."

Devon Travis, Mike McGee and Stuart Tapley contributed two hits each to Tuesday night's 15-hit attack. Tapley's first mult-hit game of the season included a leadoff homer in the third, which rattled around the top of the scoreboard in left. The blast came after his two-run single to close out a four-run first.

Tapley, who had been mired in a season-long slump, was beaming as he circled the bases following his first four-bagger of the season and 29th of his career.

"When you're going bad you'll take anything - swinging bunts, little bloop shots over first base - it doesn't matter," Tapley said. "Once you start getting on base you start to feel like you're getting your confidence back. You start running the bases and scoring a few runs here and there, drawing a couple walks, the next thing you know you're hitting balls out of the ballpark."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  1  2   1  0  0  2  4
  Sean O'Brien          PH-2B     1  0  0   0  0  0  1  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        3  1  0   0  1  0  0  1
  Jack Posey            P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Parker Brunelle       PH        1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
  Robby Scott           P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Mack Waugh            P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Mike McGee              CF        4  1  2   1  0  1  0  0
  Wil Breton            LF        1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
James Ramsey            RF        2  2  0   0  1  0  2  0
  Robby Stahl           RF        0  1  0   0  1  0  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  1  3   4  0  0  9  0
  Sean Gilmartin        1B        1  0  1   0  0  0  0  0
Rafael Lopez            C         2  1  1   0  0  0  4  1
  Stephen McGee         PH-C      2  0  0   0  0  0  5  0
Stuart Tapley           DH-3B     4  1  2   3  1  1  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  0  1   0  0  1  1  1
  Peter Miller          PH-SS     1  0  1   1  0  0  1  1
Taiwan Easterling       LF-CF     4  1  2   0  1  1  2  0
Gary Merians            P                            0  3
  Tyler Everett         P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              37 10 15  10  5  6 27 11
Opp                              32  2  7   2  2 10 24 11

E - Opp-2
2B - FSU-Jayce Boyd (6), Taiwan Easterling (2)
HR - Opp-1, FSU-Stuart Tapley (1)
HBP - FSU-James Ramsey (3), Rafael Lopez (1), Justin Gonzalez (2)
SF - Opp-1
SB - Opp-3, FSU-Mike McGee (2), James Ramsey (3), Jayce Boyd (2), Rafael Lopez (4)
CS - FSU-Devon Travis (3)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Gary Merians         W (3-0)    5.0  6  2  2  2  4
Tyler Everett                   1.0  0  0  0  0  1
Jack Posey                      1.0  0  0  0  0  2
Robby Scott                     1.0  0  0  0  0  2
Mack Waugh                      1.0  1  0  0  0  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  7  2  2  2 10
Opp                  L          8.0 15 10 10  5  6


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Maine
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
7
2
Florida State
4
2
1
0
2
0
0
1
x
10
15
0
Attendance: 4,094

Florida State 9, Maine 3
03/09/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Bring On BC.

Travis, Tapley lead ACC tune-up rout of Maine, 9-3.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Devon Travis played with one of the best leadoff hitters in Florida State baseball history last season, and is quickly proving he's a pretty good visual learner.

As the successor to Tyler Holt in the leadoff spot this season for the Seminoles, Travis is off to a torrid start, serving as both the table-setter and a run producer.

Travis' leadoff homer in the home first jump-started the Seminoles' 9-3 win over Maine Wednesday afternoon. It was just the beginning for the sophomore from West Palm Beach, who drove in four runs in a 3-for-3 performance.

"When I got into the dugout, I was like, 'Man, that's pretty cool,'" Travis said. "I remember last year sitting at Duke and Tyler Holt led off the game with a home run. I was like, 'Dang, that would be pretty cool if I could do it.' It's definitely a great feeling and a great way to get your ballclub going. It was a great day."

It was a good day all around for the fifth-ranked Seminoles (12-1), who tuned up for Friday's Atlantic Coast Conference opener against Boston College by belting out 11 hits and receiving solid pitching from starter Hunter Scantling (1-0) and the bullpen.

Scantling limited the road-weary Black Bears to two hits over five innings, struck out three and did not allow a walk in his first start of the season. Over nine innings in three appearances, Scantling is sporting a 0.00 ERA, yielding just three hits. He has seven strikeouts and no walks.

"Hunter is a guy who gets better each time he goes out there," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "I am anxious to see how he pitches his next outing because he has certainly pitched well enough to deserve another opportunity."

The Seminoles led 9-0 when Maine touched reliever Brandon Johnson for a pair of earned runs in the sixth, but successfully worked his way out of a potentially long inning without further damage.

Left-handed reliever Connor Nolan's first career appearance for the Seminoles yielded a pair of strikeouts in the seventh. Peter Miller held the Black Bears scoreless in the eighth and David Trexler struck out the side in the ninth, sandwiched around a hit and an infield error which produced the game's final run.

Collectively the quintet combined for nine strikeouts and issued just one walk, scattering nine hits.

There were no signs of malaise from the Seminoles against a mid-week opponent leading up to the ACC opener.

"It was definitely a day where a team could catch us off guard," said Travis. "[Assistant coach Mike Martin, Jr.] was out there stressing to us that it's just like travel ball when you're growing up - you've got to bring your own intensity. We came out and took care of business."

Travis and senior Stuart Tapley made sure that the Seminoles were ready to go. Travis' big day - he reached base four times in the first four innings - helped him seize control of the team batting lead (.417) among regulars. Adding his team-leading eighth double - good for a pair of RBI in a five-run second - he also took over the team lead for slugging percentage (.708).

Tapley, who came into the two-game set with the Black Bears hitting .148, homered for the second consecutive day in Wednesday's romp. He was 2-for-3 with two RBI, pushing his two-game total to 4-for-7 with five RBI against Maine, raising his average to .235.

"That is encouraging because Stuart is so strong that he can - with this approach - wait longer before he makes up his mind," Martin said. "I know one thing, he has hit two balls - well three (including) a double down the line - that was a rocket. It is encouraging to see him performing like he is."

FSU struck for five runs in the second to take the pitching-depleted Black Bears out of the game for good. Tapley doubled home a run a run and Taiwan Easterling picked up an infield RBI single. Travis doubled home a run and Mike McGee lifted a run scoring sacrifice fly.

Tapley's solo homer in the third and an RBI single by Travis in a two-run fourth finished off the FSU scoring.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        3  1  3   4  1  0  1  2
  Sean Gilmartin        1B        0  0  0   0  1  0  1  0
Sherman Johnson         3B-2B     2  0  0   0  2  1  0  1
  Sean O'Brien          PH-2B     1  0  1   0  0  0  0  1
Mike McGee              CF        3  0  0   1  0  1  2  0
  Robby Stahl           RF        1  0  0   0  0  1  1  0
James Ramsey            RF        2  1  0   0  2  1  2  0
  Wil Breton            LF        1  0  0   0  0  0  1  0
Jayce Boyd              1B-3B     4  2  1   0  1  0  7  0
Parker Brunelle         C         3  1  1   0  1  0  5  1
  Stephen McGee         C         1  0  0   0  0  1  3  0
Stuart Tapley           DH        3  2  2   2  0  0  0  0
  Rafael Lopez          PH-DH     2  0  1   0  0  0  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        2  1  1   0  1  0  2  4
Taiwan Easterling       LF        3  1  1   1  0  0  2  0
  Seth Miller           CF        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Hunter Scantling        P                            0  1
  Brandon Johnson       P                            0  0
  Connor Nolan          P                            0  0
  Peter Miller          P                            0  0
  David Trexler         P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              31  9 11   8  9  5 27 10
Opp                              35  3  9   3  1  9 24  9

E - Opp-1, FSU-Jayce Boyd (3)
2B - Opp-2, FSU-Devon Travis (8), Stuart Tapley (1)
HR - FSU-Devon Travis (2), Stuart Tapley (2)
HBP - Opp-1, FSU-Justin Gonzalez (3), Seth Miller (1)
SF - FSU-Mike McGee (2)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Hunter Scantling     W (1-0)    5.0  2  0  0  0  3
Brandon Johnson                 1.0  5  2  2  0  1
Connor Nolan                    1.0  0  0  0  0  2
Peter Miller                    1.0  1  0  0  1  0
David Trexler                   1.0  1  1  0  0  3
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  9  3  2  1  9
Opp                  L          8.0 11  9  9  9  5


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Maine
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
1
3
9
1
Florida State
1
5
1
2
0
0
0
0
x
9
11
1
Attendance: 3,655

Florida State 3, Boston College 1
03/11/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Lights Out!

Gilmartin strikes out 11 as 'Noles open ACC season with 3-1 win.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - It was another Friday Night Light's Out for Sean Gilmartin and the fifth-ranked Florida State baseball team.

Gilmartin struck out 11 for the second consecutive game and limited Boston College to a run on two hits through seven innings as the Seminoles opened their Atlantic Coast Conference season with a 3-1 victory.

With Gilmartin effectively mixing change-ups, fastballs and sliders, the Seminoles (13-1, 1-0 ACC) made a three-run fifth inning stand up for their sixth consecutive victory.

FSU coach Mike Martin was especially pleased with the way his club "persevered" against BC starter Mike Dennhardt. The Eagles' right-hander limited the 'Noles to two hits until his unraveled in a three-run fifth that he was unable to finish.

Stuart Tapley and Seth Miller singled to open the frame before Justin Gonzalez' sacrifice bunt attempt failed to move both men up. Dennhardt fielded the bunt, spun and fired to third, retiring Tapley for first out.

Devon Travis continued his torrid hitting tear with a two-run double to left, driving in both Miller and Gonzalez, whom had advanced on a double steal. Travis' ACC-leading ninth double also brought BC coach Mike Gambino and the team trainer out of the dugout, at which point Dennhardt exited with an undisclosed injury and the Eagles trailing 2-1.

"That dude [Dennhardt] was pretty good," Travis said. "He was pumping it a little bit and was a little sneaky, too."

Travis moved up on a passed ball and scored on Sherman Johnson's infield RBI single off Kyle Prohovich, extending the lead to 3-1.

As good as Dennhardt was, Gilmartin - and the FSU bullpen - was better.

How good?

"It's kind of boring," said Travis, who watched Gilmartin fan nine through five innings - one more than necessary for the crowd to win a promotional coupon. "I heard the crowd screaming, 'Hot Dog' in about the third or fourth inning and I said, 'What, already?'

"When he's got that change-up working it's crazy. Their second baseman came up to me when I was on second base and said, 'Gilmartin has the best change-up I've ever seen in my life. I don't know what to do with him.'...Thank God I'm behind him and not in the (batter's) box."

The reigning ACC Pitcher of the Week retired 12 consecutive Eagles after yielding a solo home run to Andrew Lawrence, which caromed off the top of the right field screen, with one out in the second. It was Lawrence's first homer since his ACC Tournament walk-off blast beat Miami and secured the Seminoles a place in the tournament championship game last May.

Gilmartin recorded strikeouts in six of his seven innings, including two in five innings. BC managed just four baserunners against the left-hander. Brad Zapenas doubled to start the game for the only other hit.

"I think we fail to understand how good Gilmartin is," said FSU pitching coach Jamey Shouppe. "The guy can pitch. He had a very average year last year; probably my fault as much as his. You may see him pitching on TV one day. I think we'll appreciate him more after he's gone than we do right now."

It was also a bit of redemption for Gilmartin, who was roughed up for six runs on seven hits in 3.1 innings last season at Boston College. It came during a stretch of five losses and a no-decision during his 9-8 campaign.

"I learned from it," Gilmartin said. "Mentally, without a doubt it was a huge learning experience for me. Obviously my freshman year I didn't experience too much adversity."

Daniel Bennett worked a scoreless eighth and Mike McGee struck out a pair in the ninth, sandwiched around a walk and a hit batter, to record his third save in as many attempts.

Travis used a 2-for-4 performance to improve his team-leading batting average to .423 and extend his hitting streak to nine games.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  1  2   2  0  0  0  2
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  0  1   1  0  2  0  2
Mike McGee              CF-P      3  0  1   0  1  1  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  0  1   0  0  1  2  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        3  0  1   0  1  0 10  1
Rafael Lopez            C         3  0  0   0  0  1 13  1
Stuart Tapley           DH        2  0  1   0  2  0  0  0
  Taiwan Easterling     CF        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Seth Miller             LF        4  1  1   0  0  1  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  1  0   0  0  0  0  4
Sean Gilmartin          P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              30  3  8   3  4  6 27 10
Opp                              29  1  2   1  3 14 24 12

E - Opp-2, FSU-Rafael Lopez (1)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (9), James Ramsey (1)
HR - Opp-1
HBP - Opp-2
SH - FSU-Rafael Lopez (1)
SB - FSU-Stuart Tapley (1), Seth Miller (4), Justin Gonzalez (2)
CS - FSU-Jayce Boyd (2)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Sean Gilmartin       W (4-0)    7.0  2  1  1  1 11
Daniel Bennett                  1.0  0  0  0  1  1
Mike McGee           Sv(3)      1.0  0  0  0  1  2
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  2  1  1  3 14
Opp                  L          8.0  8  3  3  4  6


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Boston College
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
Florida State
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
x
3
8
1
Attendance: 4,328

Florida State 15, Boston College 6
03/12/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Two Out Thunder.

'Noles score 11 runs with two outs in 15-6 rout of Boston College.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com TALLAHASSEE, FL - Through 15 games the fifth-ranked Florida State baseball team has established a stubborn streak at the plate, which continues to serve the Seminoles well.

The Seminoles scored 11 runs with two outs Saturday night, continuing a season-long trend, in their 15-6 victory over Boston College.

Sherman Johnson, Rafael Lopez and Taiwan Easterling each knocked out three hits as the Seminoles battered an overly-generous BC pitching staff for 15 hits on top of 13 walks. FSU's first nine runs came across with two outs in the book, including all six in a second inning that shaped the longest game of the season.

Only several hundred die-hards from the crowd of the 5,010 hung around for finish of the 3 1/2-hour affair as five BC pitchers combined to offer up 224 pitches - only 114 for strikes.

"We were in the third inning and felt like we've been out there for four hours," said Johnson, who went 3-for-4 with three RBI. "It definitely felt like a marathon out there."

The lengthy time in the dugout did nothing to help FSU starter Brian Busch, who was saddled with his third no decision in four starts. Busch surrendered 10 hits - all singles - and left after 4.1 innings with the Seminoles leading 11-6.

FSU's bullpen delivered another sterling performance as Mack Waugh, Robert Benincasa and David Trexler combined for 4.2 innings of three-hit shutout work. Waugh (1-1) picked up the win with 2.2 innings of two-hit relief of Busch, striking out a pair.

"Mack pitched very well," said FSU coach Mike Martin. "He pitched and that's what we've got to do - get those guys opportunities."

Benincasa surrendered a single in the eighth but struck out two, before turning things over to Trexler in the ninth. The lanky right-hander needed only 11 pitches to sit down three Eagle pinch-hitters in order on strikes, including three knee-buckling curves as out pitches.

"David has shown signs of having very good stuff," Martin said. "What he's got to do is get experience and be able to go out there and repeat it...He's waiting in the wings to get his chance."

The Seminoles - who got the leadoff batter aboard in all eight innings - didn't wait too long to get after BC starter Nate Bayuk. After leaving the bases loaded in the first, FSU used a walk, a hit batter and Easterling's sacrifice bunt to set the table. Johnson's two-run double to right got the 'Noles on the board. Mike McGee and James Ramsey followed with RBI singles and doubles, respectively, before Jayce Boyd legged out an infield single. Lopez followed with an RBI double - which chased Bayuk - and Boyd closed out the scoring, coming home on a Eric Stevens wild pitch.

Boston College countered with a pair of runs in the third, which were neutralized by FSU's three-run home half of the frame. Johnson rapped his second RBI double of the game - one of a season-high six doubles by the 'Noles.

Johnson's big night came after some extra work in the batting cage, where he picked up on - and corrected - a flaw in his swing.

Ramsey tacked on a two-out, two-run single to right for a 9-2 lead that was never seriously threatened. FSU added two runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings as they came within one run and one hit of matching their season-high production in both categories.

Martin was pleased to see Johnson, Lopez and Easterling - who batted second, sixth and ninth in the order - come through and provide some balance to the Seminoles' attack.

"Sherman had some very good swings, at-bats," Martin said. "Raffy has hit the ball pretty hard most of the year and hasn't had an awful lot to show for it, but certainly tonight he had some big hits."

So did Easterling, who is 7-for-15 (.467) at the plate as a starter.

"I'm glad to see him [Easterling] getting a chance," Martin said. "He's earning it. Seth Miller and he are working themselves into a nice little platoon situation in left field."

"It's real comfortable when I'm out there in the field," said Easterling, who enjoyed the first three-hit game of his career. "Just being active in the game helps out a lot, because I come to the plate and already relaxed.

"It's coming together but I've still got some work to do, but I've been feeling really good of late and just trying to help the team out any way I can."

The Seminoles, who have won 21 consecutive Sunday games dating to the 2009 NCAA Regional playoff win over Ohio State, will send right-hander Scott Sitz (2-0, 1.65) to the mound in an attempt to close out the sweep. Boston College will counter with right-hander John Leonard (2-1, 2.75).

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  1  0   1  1  1  4  1
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  2  3   3  2  0  0  2
Mike McGee              CF        3  2  1   2  2  0  1  0
  Seth Miller           PH-CF     0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0
James Ramsey            RF        5  1  2   3  0  1  2  0
  Stephen McGee         PH        1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Wil Breton            RF        0  0  0   0  0  0  1  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        3  2  1   0  2  0  7  2
  Jack Posey            1B        0  0  0   0  1  0  1  0
Rafael Lopez            C         4  3  3   2  1  1  5  0
  Peter Miller          PH        1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  David Trexler         P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Stuart Tapley           DH        3  1  0   0  1  2  0  0
  Parker Brunelle       PH-DH-C   2  0  0   0  0  0  2  1
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  3  2   0  1  0  2  5
Taiwan Easterling       LF        3  0  3   2  0  0  1  0
  Robby Stahl           PH-LF     0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0
Brian Busch             P                            0  2
  Mack Waugh            P                            1  0
  Robert Benincasa      P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              36 15 15  13 13  5 27 13
Opp                              39  6 13   5  4  8 24  7

E - Opp-1, FSU-Justin Gonzalez (4)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Sherman Johnson 2 (5), James Ramsey (2), Rafael Lopez 2 (5), Taiwan Easterling (3)
HBP - FSU-Justin Gonzalez (4)
SH - FSU-Taiwan Easterling (1)
SF - FSU-Devon Travis (1)
SB - FSU-Rafael Lopez (5)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Brian Busch                     4.1 10  6  6  3  1
Mack Waugh           W (1-1)    2.2  2  0  0  1  2
Robert Benincasa                1.0  1  0  0  0  2
David Trexler                   1.0  0  0  0  0  3
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0 13  6  6  4  8
Opp                  L          8.0 15 15 13 13  5


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Boston College
0
0
2
1
3
0
0
0
0
6
13
1
Florida State
0
6
3
2
2
0
2
0
x
15
15
1
Attendance: 5,010

Florida State 4, Boston College 3
03/13/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Rally Capper!

Seminoles wipe out 3-0 deficit to complete sweep of BC.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - One-hit through six innings and trailing Boston College 3-0, fifth-ranked Florida State rallied for its 22nd consecutive Sunday victory, 4-3.

Rafael Lopez's sacrifice fly to left in the bottom of the scored Taiwan Easterling from third as the Seminoles (15-1, 3-0) completed their first Atlantic Coast Conference series sweep at home since March 26-28, 2010 against Maryland.

"What was so encouraging for me is the way that we persevered," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "We stayed tough. We were down 3-0. (John) Leonard was doing a great job, but we didn't panic. We didn't start chasing pitches out of the zone. We just fought and got it done."

Count Lopez, who began his career at Boston College, among the Seminoles who remained confident throughout the early innings. Seth Miller's third inning single was the only hit the FSU could muster off Leonard.

"I knew we would come back," Lopez said. "We were just getting a little bit out of our approach the first few innings...We just started to buckle down a little bit mentally and you saw what happened."

The Seminoles erased the three-run deficit in the seventh when Mike McGee doubled to lead off the frame - just the second hit of the game off Leonard - and James Ramsey lifted a shallow fly that BC left fielder Marc Perdios lost in the sun. Ramsey ended up on second with a double and Jayce Boyd put the 'Noles on the board with a sacrifice fly to center.

Senior DH Stuart Tapley lined an RBI single through the left side of the Boston College defense, but was erased at second on Seth Miller's ground ball for the second out. Miller promptly stole second and Justin Gonzalez ended Leonard's stellar performance with an RBI double to the gap in right-center, knotting the score at 3-all.

Florida State, however, wasn't out of the woods. The Seminoles needed a sliding grab by Miller in left and a full-sprint catch by Ramsey in right to help reliever Daniel Bennett retire the side in order in the eighth.

"You saw the two catches there my outfielders were making," said Bennett, who made his ACC-leading 10th appearance when he replaced starter Scott Sitz with two outs in the seventh. "It's hard to not have confidence when you've got a defense like that behind me. My job was to let them put it in play and let one of my guys make a play."

An inning later, Bennett had to dig his own way out of trouble.

Tom Bourdon led off with an infield single before Brad Zapenas reached on a sacrifice bunt attempt when Bennett and Lopez had a "communication error." Andrew Lawrence's sacrifice bunt put Eagles at second and third with one out and brought Anthony Melchionda - BC's RBI leader - to the plate. Melchionda had already doubled home BC's third run of the game back in the seventh.

"I tried to nibble at the corners," Bennett said of his match-up with Melchionda. "I didn't want to give him anything to put a good swing on. He happened to swing at a ball low and away and I was lucky to get away with it."

The momentum-shifting strikeout was followed by an intentional walk to load the bases and set up a force out. Marc Perdios' fly ball to center ended the BC threat.

"The fly out to McGee to end the inning was huge momentum for our team to get back in the dugout with the score tied," Bennett added. "Getting that strikeout was real big."

FSU didn't waste any time capitalizing. Tapley - who was replaced on the basepaths by Easterling - and Miller worked reliever Matt Brazis (0-1) for walks to start the ninth.

"Once that Seth walked the momentum shifted our way," said Gonzalez, who was in the on-deck circle. "We knew we were going to have to put a lot of pressure on the defense to make that play. We knew that once we got that bunt down they'd have to make a perfect pitch to get out of the inning."

Boston College (6-8, 0-3) turned to Garret Smith, who made an unsuccessful attempt to retire Easterling at third on Gonzalez's sacrifice bunt, which brought Lopez to the plate with no outs and the bases loaded.

"I was just trying to hit a fly ball," Lopez said. "I knew they would go fastball away - they had been trying to do that the whole series - and I knew it was going to happen. I just put a bat on it."

That's all the 'Noles would need to come away with a win on a day when they were out-hit 9-6. McGee was the lone FSU player to collect multiple hits.

The late heroics made a winner of Bennett, who worked a season-high 2.1 innings and yielded just one hit.

"I don't get too many decisions, but when you have a bullpen like ours, any of those guys could come in and do the same job that I do," said Bennett. "It doesn't mean a whole lot to me to get a 'W' as long as the team gets a 'W'. That puts us 3-0 in conference now. Anybody could have got that win and it's the same feeling."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  0  0   0  0  0  1  2
Sherman Johnson         3B        3  0  0   0  1  0  0  0
Mike McGee              CF        3  1  2   0  1  0  3  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  1  1   0  0  1  6  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        3  0  0   1  0  0  9  2
Stuart Tapley           DH        3  0  1   1  1  1  0  0
  Taiwan Easterling     PR        0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0
Seth Miller             LF        2  1  1   0  2  0  3  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  0  1   1  0  0  0  4
Parker Brunelle         C         2  0  0   0  0  1  2  1
  Rafael Lopez          PH-C      1  0  0   1  0  0  1  1
Scott Sitz              P                            2  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              28  4  6   4  5  3 27 10
Opp                              35  3  9   3  4  3 25  8

E - FSU-Daniel Bennett (1), Devon Travis (3)
2B - Opp-2, FSU-Mike McGee (3), James Ramsey (3), Justin Gonzalez (3)
SH - Opp-2, FSU-Justin Gonzalez (1)
SF - FSU-Jayce Boyd (2), Rafael Lopez (2)
SB - FSU-Seth Miller (5)
CS - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Scott Sitz                      6.2  8  3  3  2  2
Daniel Bennett       W (1-0)    2.1  1  0  0  2  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  9  3  3  4  3
Opp                  L          8.1  6  4  4  5  3


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Boston College
0
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
3
9
0
Florida State
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
1
4
6
2
Attendance: 4,377

Florida 5, Florida State 4
03/15/2011, Gainesville, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Tough One.

Seminoles fall in 10 innings at No. 1 Florida, 5-4.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

GAINESVILLE, FL - There was a June feel to Tuesday night's showdown between No. 1 Florida and No. 4 Florida State as the in-state national powers tangled for the second time this season.

Tension and emotions ran high throughout a dizzying array of pitching changes and big moments until Florida's Daniel Pigott delivered the game-winning RBI single through the middle in the 10th inning for a 5-4 victory.

"It's hard to try to work up a smile, but I will say this, I saw a baseball team handle a lot of situations on the road that make me proud," said FSU coach Mike Martin. "I saw pitchers come in that pitched extremely well when they had to. You have to take off your hat to Florida. They got the big hit in the ninth and they did a very good job of producing their runs."

Neither Martin nor Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan spared any expense in an attempt to even this year's four-game series at one each. The Seminoles used nine pitchers, while the Gators sent six men to the hill in an attempt to avenge their 5-3 loss to FSU on March 1 in Tampa.

Pigott's career-high fourth RBI of the night, which followed his game-tying, two-run single in the eighth, did just that, ending the 3-hour, 48-minute affair.

The largest crowd in McKethan Stadium history - 5,930 - was treated to the first extra inning game between the rivals since March 31, 2004, which the Gators won 7-6 in 11 innings. It was also Florida State's first extra inning game since an 11-10, 13-frame victory over Jacksonville on May 4, 2010.

"It's funny how one game during the week is magnified so much," said Martin. "We had a great crowd - a record.

"It's exciting to be a part of it. Florida deserved to win it. When you fall behind 4-0 with a club that played as well as we did, you have to take your hat off to them."

The Seminoles did all of their damage in the third inning against short-lived Florida starter Alex Panteliodis (1-1). Mike McGee led off with a single up the middle and clean-up hitter James Ramsey won the left-on-left match-up decisively, hammering a two-run homer over the right field fence to five FSU a 2-0 lead.

Panteliodis got Jayce Boyd to ground to third for the first out, but Rafael Lopez closed out his night with a double into the left field corner. UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan turned to right-hander Greg Larson, who retired Stuart Tapley on strikes for the second out.

Florida State sophomore Justin Gonzalez turned on Larson's next offering, to the plate, depositing it deep into the left field grandstands for a 4-0 lead.

"I was just going up there trying to hit the ball hard," said Gonzalez, who like Ramsey, collected his second homer of the season and first of his career against the Gators. "I got a pitch to hit and I hit it. Thank God it went out."

The Gators pecked away at the lead scoring single runs in the third and fourth off FSU starter Hunter Scantling. Daniel Pigott's RBI double in the third plated Florida's first run. Tyler Thompson's RBI single in the fourth halved the deficit and ended Scantling's night.

From that point forward the baseball game more closely resembled a chess match between Martin and O'Sullivan, who spent the next couple hours trying to match batters and pitchers.

"I probably used more pitchers tonight...I don't know when I've used nine, but I'm going to tell you one thing, if they pitch like that we'll use 10 one night to win a ballgame," Martin said. "I'm very proud of this ballclub. It was a good game."

From Scantling to Robert Benincasa, Connor Nolan, Tye Buckley, Mack Waugh, Daniel Bennett, Robby Scott, Jack Posey and finally closer Mike McGee, the Seminoles collectively held the Gators at bay through multiple challenges. Florida stranded a season-high 13 runners on base before breaking through with the tying runs in the eighth.

Florida stranded the potential winning run at third in the home ninth when Brian Johnson singled, pinch-runner Paul Wilson stole second and took third on a wild pitch with no outs. Posey struck out Mike Zunino and gave way to McGee, who got an infield pop and a fly to right to stave off defeat.

McGee and the 'Noles could not repeat the feat in the 10th after Nolan Fontana led up with a triple into the right field corner. Pigott, who was 3-for-4 to lead UF's 11-hit attack, singled back through the middle to bring the night to a close.

Florida's bullpen effectively shut down the Seminoles after they grabbed their 4-0 lead.

FSU's best shot at padding their lead came in the eighth when Rafael Lopez singled and moved up when Stuart Tapley was hit by a Mike Maronde pitch. With two outs and tension running high, Seth Miller singled sharply to right.

UF right fielder Preston Tucker came up firing home and Zuzino's sweeping tag of Lopez ended the inning.

Lopez (2-for-4) led FSU's nine-hit attack.

While there was disappointment, Martin and his players were largely encouraged by the 10 inning, error-free performance against the nation's top-ranked team.

"When emotions get into a rivalry game like that, it's exciting," said Ramsey. "It's definitely something I feel a whole lot better about even after the game. We didn't have anybody with their heads down. We know we're going to lose sometimes, especially to good ballclubs.

"I'm just very pleased with the way we responded to adversity. Maybe we did let it slip away a little bit, but you've got to capitalize when a team gives you a break and that's what they did tonight."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        5  0  1   0  0  1  1  4
Sherman Johnson         3B        5  0  1   0  0  1  0  1
Mike McGee              CF-P      4  1  1   0  1  1  3  0
James Ramsey            RF        5  1  1   2  0  2  2  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  0  0   0  0  1 11  2
Rafael Lopez            C         5  1  2   0  0  0  6  1
Stuart Tapley           DH        3  0  1   0  0  1  0  0
  Wil Breton            LF        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  1  1   2  0  2  1  2
Taiwan Easterling       LF        2  0  0   0  0  0  1  0
  Seth Miller           LF-CF     2  0  1   0  0  0  2  0
Hunter Scantling        P                            0  0
  Robert Benincasa      P                            0  0
  Connor Nolan          P                            0  0
  Tye Buckley           P                            1  0
  Mack Waugh            P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  1
  Robby Scott           P                            0  0
  Jack Posey            P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              39  4  9   4  1  9 28 11
Opp                              39  5 11   5  8  7 30  9

2B - Opp-2, FSU-Rafael Lopez (6)
3B - Opp-1
HR - FSU-James Ramsey (2), Justin Gonzalez (2)
HBP - FSU-Jayce Boyd (1), Stuart Tapley (1)
SB - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Hunter Scantling                3.1  5  2  2  1  4
Robert Benincasa                0.1  0  0  0  0  1
Connor Nolan                    0.0  0  0  0  1  0
Tye Buckley                     1.0  0  0  0  2  0
Mack Waugh                      1.1  0  0  0  2  0
Daniel Bennett                  1.1  3  2  2  2  1
Robby Scott                     0.1  0  0  0  0  0
Jack Posey                      0.2  1  0  0  0  1
Mike McGee           L (0-1)    1.0  2  1  1  0  0
                               ===================
FSU                             9.1 11  5  5  8  7
Opp                  W         10.0  9  4  4  1  9


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Florida State
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
9
0
Florida
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
2
0
1
5
11
0
Attendance: 5,930

Virginia 4, Florida State 3
03/18/2011, Charlottesville, Va.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Heartbreak At UVa.

Seminoles suffer second consecutive extra-inning defeat.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - Heartbreak followed Florida State to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Steven Proscia's 11th-inning walk-off single delivered fifth-ranked Virginia a 4-3 victory over the fourth-ranked Seminoles Friday night at Davenport Field. It was the second consecutive extra inning loss for the Seminoles (15-3, 3-1 ACC), who fell at No. 1 Florida 5-4 in 10 innings Tuesday night.

"We played well, didn't make an error, got more hits than the other club and lose it 4-3," said FSU coach Mike Martin. "How do you explain it? It's just baseball."

A crowd of 4,268 turned out to see the marquee pitching match between FSU's Sean Gilmartin and Virginia's Danny Hultzen. The two left-handers didn't disappoint, though neither was around for the finish.

Gilmartin allowed five hits and three earned runs over 7.1 innings, striking out five. Hultzen struck out 12, but yielded six hits and three runs, but departed after seven innings. Their performances certainly lived up to its pre-game billing.

"Yes it did," said Martin. "I can't say enough about how pleased I am for the way that Gilly pitched. Daniel Bennett pitched beautifully. It's just a tough loss."

Bennett (1-1) was saddled with the loss when the Cavaliers came through in the bottom of the 11th with a two-out rally. John Hicks doubled to left and the Seminoles intentionally walked Hultzen to set up a force. Proscia followed with a line drive that sailed over left fielder Seth Miller's head as Hicks was mobbed at home after scoring the winning run.

The Cavaliers (18-1, 4-0) recorded their 12th consecutive victory, but it didn't come up easy.

The Seminoles were more than up for the challenge of facing Hultzen. They scored more runs and collected more hits than he had allowed in his four previous starts.

"We were definitely happy with the way we started off," said FSU senior Mike McGee. "We were swinging at pitches we should have been swinging at and not swinging at pitches we shouldn't. We were making him work for everything he was getting and I was proud of the way we played today.

"It's just one of those things that didn't work out."

It didn't look that way when McGee homered to lead off the sixth against Hultzen - the first of the season off the UVa star - to provide the Seminoles with a 3-1 cushion. McGee's blast, his fourth of the season, sailed over the trees beyond the left field grandstands.

Virginia tied the game with two in the seventh off Gilmartin, who had allowed just two hits through six innings before Hicks led off with a single. Proscia followed with a one-out RBI double to draw the Cavaliers within 3-2 and Reed Gragnani's single through the middle tied it.

Hultzen entered the game having allowed just two runs in four previous starts. It took the Seminoles exactly two innings to equal that total.

FSU struck for a run in the top of the first when Devon Travis legged out an infield single, moved to second on a passed ball and stopped at third after McGee singled to left. James Ramsey followed with a soft liner in front of Cavaliers' second baseman Keith Werman, who lost his balance fielding the short-hopper then dropped the ball. That allowed Travis to scamper home for a 1-0 Seminole lead.

Virginia tied the game in the home first when John Barr tripled to deep left-center and scored on Hicks' sacrifice fly to center.

Justin Gonzalez tripled to right-center with one out in the second, then came home on Seth Miller's RBI groundout to second as the Seminoles regained the lead, 2-1.

Justin Thompson (1-0) earned the win in relief, yielding just one hit over the final 3.2 innings.

The Seminoles out-hit the Cavaliers 8-7 as Devon Travis and McGee led the way with two hits each.

"It was a well-fought game on both sides," said McGee. "We just happened to get on the wrong end of the victory. It's tough when you're on the road to win games like that, that keep going against a good club. They did their job and got it done."

The Seminoles will send Scott Sitz (2-0, 2.35) against Virginia's Tyler Wilson (3-0, 1.82) in an effort to even the weekend series.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        5  1  2   0  0  1  4  4
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  0  0   0  1  3  0  2
Mike McGee              CF        5  1  2   1  0  0  5  0
  Taiwan Easterling     CF        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  0  0   0  1  3  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        2  0  0   0  0  2  4  0
  Jack Posey            1B        2  0  1   0  0  1  8  0
Rafael Lopez            C         5  0  0   0  0  1  8  2
Stuart Tapley           DH        4  0  1   0  0  2  0  0
  Robby Stahl           PR        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  1  1   0  1  2  1  4
Seth Miller             LF        4  0  1   1  0  0  2  0
Sean Gilmartin          P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              39  3  8   2  3 15 32 12
Opp                              37  4  7   4  3  9 33 11

E - Opp-1
2B - Opp-2
3B - Opp-1, FSU-Justin Gonzalez (1)
HR - FSU-Mike McGee (4)
HBP - FSU-Jack Posey (1), Stuart Tapley (2)
SF - Opp-1
CS - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Sean Gilmartin                  7.1  5  3  3  0  5
Daniel Bennett       L (1-1)    3.1  2  1  1  3  4
                               ===================
FSU                            10.2  7  4  4  3  9
Opp                  W         11.0  8  3  2  3 15


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
Florida State
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
8
0
Virginia
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
4
7
1
Attendance: 4,268

Virginia 5, Florida State 4
03/19/2011, Charlottesville, Va.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Extra Frustrating.

Seminoles suffer third consecutive extra inning defeat, 5-4 at Virginia.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - For the third time in five days the fourth-ranked Florida State baseball team watched a late-inning lead turn into an extra inning defeat.

Virginia's Jared King led off the bottom of the 11th inning with a solo home run to left-center - the first of his career - lifting the fifth-ranked Cavaliers (19-1, 5-0 ACC) to a 5-4 victory Saturday afternoon at Davenport Field. King's blast came on the heels of Friday night's 4-3 loss on an 11th-inning single by Steven Proscia.

"This one hurts," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "There's been others we've lost in this little stretch that you can rationalize a little bit. That one hurt. That one got away from us."

Florida State (15-4, 3-2) carried a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth, only to surrender the tying run to the Cavaliers without yielding a hit. Virginia parlayed two walks and two hit batters from three FSU pitchers to scratch across the tying run with two outs. Reliever Hunter Scantling hit Stephen Bruno to force home the tying run.

The Seminole broke a 3-3 deadlock in the top of the ninth on Jayce Boyd's sacrifice fly to right, which followed consecutive singles by Sherman Johnson and James Ramsey.

All-American outfielder/closer Mike McGee, who suffered a quadriceps strain in late in Friday night's game, was unavailable Saturday.

King's blast in the 11th off Tyler Everett served as most recent body blow absorbed by the Seminoles, who have played in four consecutive one-run games, including the three extra innings defeats on the road.

"We're waiting on a game to end with an out, not a walk-off," said Ramsey. "It's important that we do keep sticking to what is tried and true; what's got us here as a program, just hard work and playing together."

Sophomore right-hander Scott Sitz provided the Seminoles with a second consecutive solid start against the Cavaliers. Sitz limited Virginia to four hits and three earned runs over a career-high seven innings. He struck out three and did not issue a walk, though he did hit two batters.

The Seminoles also out-hit Virginia for the second consecutive game - this time 10-6 - and chased previously unbeaten starter Tyler Wilson during a three-run fourth inning, which erased a 2-0 deficit. All three runs came with two outs, beginning with a Seth Miller RBI single through the middle. Justin Gonzalez earned an RBI the hard way, getting hit by a Corey Hunt pitch with the bases loaded to tie the game. Taiwan Easterling's sacrifice fly to right put the 'Noles in front 3-2.

Miller led FSU's offensive attack with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate.

Florida State will send left-hander Brian Busch (1-0, 5.28) to the mound in an attempt to extend its streak of consecutive Sunday victories to 23. The Seminoles have not lost on a Sunday since falling to the Cavaliers in the 2009 ACC Tournament championship game.

Virginia will counter with right-hander Cody Winiarksi (2-1, 3.05).

"We're as close a unit as we have been all year," said Ramsey. "We're 19 games into the season and there's a reason why every single schedule has a tough stretch that's going to test your ballclub. A lot of times you want that early in the season...

"We're just going to keep plugging along, working hard and try to get 27 (outs) tomorrow and win a ballgame."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  0  1   0  1  1  1  5
Sherman Johnson         3B        6  1  1   0  0  1  1  2
James Ramsey            RF        4  1  1   0  2  1  2  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        5  0  1   1  0  3 13  0
Rafael Lopez            DH-C      5  1  1   0  0  1  0  0
Seth Miller             LF        5  1  3   1  0  2  2  0
Parker Brunelle         C         3  0  1   0  2  0  4  0
  Sean Gilmartin        PR-DH     0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  0  0   1  1  1  1  3
Taiwan Easterling       CF        4  0  1   1  0  0  6  0
Scott Sitz              P                            0  1
  Mack Waugh            P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  1
  Robert Benincasa      P                            0  0
  Hunter Scantling      P                            0  0
  Tyler Everett         P                            0  2
                                 ========================
FSU                              39  4 10   4  6 10 30 14
Opp                              33  5  6   5  3  4 33  8

E - FSU-Sherman Johnson (1)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (10), Seth Miller (2)
HR - Opp-1
HBP - Opp-4, FSU-Devon Travis (2), Rafael Lopez (2), Justin Gonzalez (5)
SH - Opp-1
SF - Opp-2, FSU-Jayce Boyd (3), Taiwan Easterling (1)
SB - Opp-3, FSU-Taiwan Easterling (2)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Scott Sitz                      7.0  4  3  3  0  3
Mack Waugh                      1.0  0  0  0  0  0
Daniel Bennett                  0.1  0  1  1  0  0
Robert Benincasa                0.0  0  0  0  1  0
Hunter Scantling                0.1  0  0  0  1  1
Tyler Everett        L (0-1)    1.1  2  1  1  1  0
                               ===================
FSU                            10.0  6  5  5  3  4
Opp                  W         11.0 10  4  4  6 10


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
Florida State
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
4
10
1
Virginia
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
5
6
0
Attendance: 3,884

Florida State 12, Virginia 11
03/20/2011, Charlottesville, Va.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Found A Way!

Seminoles win in 10 on Lopez blast, 12-11.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - Sunday is the first day of a new week, but it was also the end of the longest of weeks for the fourth-ranked Florida State baseball team.

Playing their fourth consecutive extra-inning game, the fourth-ranked Seminoles got a leadoff homer from Rafael Lopez in the top of the 10th inning and Mike McGee made it stand up in a wild 12-11 victory over No. 5 Virginia.

The Seminoles (16-4, 4-2 ACC) snapped a three-game losing streak and avoided a series sweep by registering their 23rd consecutive Sunday victory, dating to their 2009 ACC Tournament championship game loss to the Cavaliers (19-2, 5-1). In the process, FSU ended Virginia's 13-game winning streak, which included a pair of extra-inning triumphs over the 'Noles to begin the series. It was the Seminoles' fifth consecutive one-run game.

"I can't express enough to our team how pleased I was with the fight," said FSU coach Mike Martin, who shuffled his lineup in an effort to break the skid. "We fell behind by three runs in the middle part of the ballgame, came back and tied it up. We got a four-run lead with six outs (to play), yet lose that lead an end up winning it late. It was a big win for us. It's huge in the RPI situation. You've got a team that's just lost its second game in 21."

James Ramsey (2-for-4) drove in a career-high five runs and Lopez (3-for-5) knocked in three more to lead the Seminoles' 10-hit attack.

McGee, who suffered a quadriceps strain in the series opener and wasn't available when the Seminoles couldn't preserve late leads Friday and Saturday, earned the win with two innings of relief on Sunday.

"Michael had had all the sitting he could stand," Martin said. "He told me before the game, 'I'll close it if it's necessary.' I went to him in the seventh and said, 'Are you ready?' He said yeah and I said, 'You've got the ninth.' Little did I know, we were going to play like we did to get them back in the ballgame, yet we persevered."

The senior right-handed closer came on in the ninth with the Seminoles leading 11-9, but Virginia tied the game on a single and a pair of FSU errors.

Lopez regained the lead for the 'Noles, depositing a 1-1 offering from Artie Lewicki into the right field bleachers for a 12-11 advantage.

"I'm pretty sure it was a change-up that he left over the outer third of the plate," Lopez said of his game-winning homer. "I knew it was over his head and once I saw him look back to the crowd I knew it was gone."

"Raffy hit the stew out of that ball and it was certainly a big, big home run for us," Martin said.

McGee (1-1) picked up the win by striking out series-long nemesis Steven Proscia with the tying run at second base to end the long weekend. The victory allowed the Seminoles to maintain a one-game lead in the Atlantic Division over favorite Clemson.

At the end of it all the Seminoles and Cavaliers had played 31 innings of baseball with each game decided by a single run. Outscored 20-19 (each team totaled 18 earned runs), FSU held a 28-27 advantage in hits.

Given the quality of competition and nearly dead-even production, it was critical for the Seminoles to come away with a win on a day when they overcame 2-0, 4-3 and 7-4 deficits, but also squandered 3-2 and 11-7 leads.

"It's huge - really big, especially after losing on a walk-off three games in a row," said McGee. "Another one would have really been crushing. To fight it out and get a win, especially on the road and not get swept, it's just huge."

It was also a relief.

"Everyone always knows, win or lose, we're going to fight," Lopez said. "Come the end of the season, winning one (game) can be huge. When you lose three, that's really painful. At least we got one. … Now we can take momentum into next week."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        5  2  2   0  1  2  2  4
Seth Miller             LF        4  1  0   1  1  2  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  0  2   5  1  0  3  0
Sean Gilmartin          CF        6  0  1   1  0  1  3  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        5  1  1   0  0  1 13  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  1  0   0  0  1  1  1
Rafael Lopez            C         4  4  3   3  1  0  3  5
Stuart Tapley           DH        2  2  1   0  1  1  0  0
  Tye Buckley           PR        0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Wil Breton            PH        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Taiwan Easterling     PR        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        5  0  0   1  0  2  3  4
Brian Busch             P                            0  0
  Jack Posey            P                            0  0
  Mack Waugh            P                            0  0
  Peter Miller          P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  1
  Mike McGee            P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              39 12 10  11  5 10 30 15
Opp                              42 11 14  11  5  5 30  9

E - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (4), Sherman Johnson (2)
2B - Opp-3, FSU-Devon Travis (11), James Ramsey (4), Rafael Lopez 2 (8)
HR - Opp-1, FSU-Rafael Lopez (2)
HBP - Opp-2, FSU-Seth Miller (2), Sherman Johnson (1), Wil Breton (1)
SH - Opp-1, FSU-James Ramsey (1), Stuart Tapley (1)
SB - Opp-2, FSU-Taiwan Easterling (3)
CS - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Brian Busch                     3.0  6  4  4  2  2
Jack Posey                      0.2  0  0  0  1  0
Mack Waugh                      1.2  5  3  3  0  0
Peter Miller                    0.2  0  0  0  1  0
Daniel Bennett                  2.0  2  2  2  0  1
Mike McGee           W (1-1)    2.0  1  2  0  1  2
                               ===================
FSU                            10.0 14 11  9  5  5
Opp                  L         10.0 10 12 12  5 10


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Florida State
0
0
3
0
0
1
3
4
0
1
12
10
2
Virginia
2
0
0
2
0
3
0
2
2
0
11
14
1
Attendance: 3,742

Stetson 6, Florida State 4
03/23/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Not Again!

FSU baseball team falls in 11 innings to Stetson, 6-4.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Extending one streak and ending a couple others, the fifth-ranked Florida State baseball found itself on the wrong end of another mentally grueling game Wednesday night at Dick Howser Stadium.

Stetson mounted a successful late-inning rally to forge a tie and scored two in the top of the 11th to secure a 6-4 victory.

It was the fifth-ranked Seminoles fifth consecutive extra-inning game - by all documentable accounts a school record - and the sixth time in a row they were involved in a game that went to the wire.

Ranked No. 28 in this week's Collegiate Baseball poll, the Hatters (18-4) snapped a pair of 13-game streaks against the Seminoles. FSU came into the game with 13 consecutive home victories - the nation's longest - and a 13-game game winning streak against Stetson dating to 1988.

"We just have to continue to work," said FSU coach Mike Martin. "If that wasn't a good club, if they were going through the motions, then I could start raving. We play our guts out and get beat. What do you do? Yell at somebody for popping up? It is just the nature of the game."

The game hasn't been particularly kind to the Seminoles during an eight-game stretch that has seen opponents come from behind in either the eighth or ninth innings five times and prevail on four occasions.

Stetson slugger Ben Carhart's two-run homer in the top of the ninth off closer Mike McGee gave the visitors a 4-3 lead. The Seminoles tied the game on a pair of ninth-inning singles by Parker Brunelle and Rafael Lopez, a stolen base. An errant throw by Stetson catcher Nick Rickles on Lopez's steal attempt allowed pinch-runner Tye Buckley to score the tying run.

The Hatters prevailed in the 11th when Mark Jones drew a one-out walk from reliever Gary Merians and Ryan Lashley doubled him home with two outs.

While Stetson managed to produce in the key late-game situations, the Seminoles struggled to push runners across, stranding a season-high 16 baserunners. Three times FSU left the bases loaded.

"Every team is going to go through a little patch like we have," said Lopez, who went 3-for-6. "I don't know about extra innings, but tough games. I think it's going to make the whole team tougher for the rest of the season. If we can handle this, we can handle probably anything."

Florida State redshirt freshman David Trexler, making his first career start, scattered five hits over 3.1 innings as Stetson built a 2-0 lead. The Hatters parlayed leadoff doubles by Lashley and Robert Crews to single runs in the third and fourth innings.

The Seminoles halved the deficit in the fourth when Jayce Boyd collected his second single of the night and followed with his second stolen base of the game. Justin Gonzalez's two-out RBI single pulled FSU within 2-1.

It took the 'Noles one swing in the fourth to even the score. James Ramsey deposited Stetson starter Will Dorsey's 1-0 offering over the screen in right-center for his third home run of the season, forging a 2-2 deadlock.

Hunter Scantling relieved Trexler in the fourth and helped hold the Hatters at bay, thanks in part to a defense which turned a season-high four double plays. The big right-hander turned in 4.2 innings of two-hit, shutout work.

"After the weekend at Virginia, you try to forget about stuff like that, but obviously it's going to be stuck in your head (for) letting the team down," said Scantling, who was unable to hold a ninth inning lead in Saturday's loss. "Getting the chance to come out here today and do what I did, trying to keep the team in the ballgame, I felt comfortable out there. I was excited to get the ball. I wanted the ball and I just worked from there."

Martin was appreciative of the effort, calling Scantling's work a "definite bright spot" on the night.

Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to hold up for the win, even after Ramsey (3-for-4, 2 RBI) gave the 'Noles a 3-2 lead with his eighth inning RBI single to right.

"Everybody's feeling it now," Scantling said of the string of extra inning games. "We're ready to get a nine inning ballgame. I think it's great for the team, obviously not to keep playing games like this, but to learn from them. Down the road we're going to be all right. This is going to teach us a lesson and when we come to a game like this from here on out, I feel like we're going to have an advantage over any other team."

On Tuesday night, the final advantage belonged to the Hatters, who extended their winning streak to six games.

"You can see why they are 18-4," Martin said. "They swept Georgia, played a very tough game last night, got up at I don't know what time, because they left at about 7:30 (a.m.)...to come up here. They deserved to win the ball game. They deserved to win."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        2  0  0   0  2  1  3  8
Sherman Johnson         3B        5  0  0   0  1  1  0  1
James Ramsey            RF        4  1  3   2  2  1  5  0
Sean Gilmartin          CF        4  0  0   0  2  1  2  0
Stuart Tapley           DH        3  0  0   0  0  3  0  0
  Parker Brunelle       PH-DH     1  0  1   0  0  0  0  0
  Tye Buckley           PR        0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  1
  Wil Breton            PH        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Gary Merians          P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  1
  Robby Stahl           PH        1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
Rafael Lopez            C         6  0  3   0  0  0  5  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  1  2   0  2  0 15  1
Seth Miller             LF        4  0  1   0  0  2  1  0
  Mike McGee            P         1  0  0   0  0  1  1  0
  Taiwan Easterling     LF        1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  1  2   1  0  2  1  3
David Trexler           P                            0  1
  Hunter Scantling      P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              40  4 12   3  9 14 33 16
Opp                              38  6 12   6  4  5 33 11

E - Opp-1
2B - Opp-5, FSU-Rafael Lopez (9)
HR - Opp-1, FSU-James Ramsey (3)
HBP - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (3), Parker Brunelle (1), Justin Gonzalez (6)
SH - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (2)
SB - FSU-James Ramsey (4), Rafael Lopez (6), Jayce Boyd 2 (4), Seth Miller (6)
CS - Opp-1, FSU-Sherman Johnson (2), James Ramsey (3), Justin Gonzalez (1)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
David Trexler                   3.1  5  2  2  1  1
Hunter Scantling                4.2  2  0  0  0  2
Mike McGee                      1.0  2  2  2  1  2
Daniel Bennett                  1.0  1  0  0  1  0
Gary Merians         L (3-1)    1.0  2  2  2  1  0
                               ===================
FSU                            11.0 12  6  6  4  5
Opp                  W         11.0 12  4  3  9 14


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
Stetson
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
6
12
1
Florida State
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
4
12
0
Attendance: 4,870

Florida State 12, Wake Forest 4
03/25/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Sweet Relief.

Boyd's slam in first gives Seminoles breathing room in 12-4 rout.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Jayce Boyd belted his first career grand slam in the first inning and Florida State never looked back, cruising to a 12-4 victory over Wake Forest in Friday's ACC series opener at Dick Howser Stadium.

The fifth-ranked Seminoles (17-5, 5-2) scored five runs in the first and six in the fourth, more than enough to put an end to their frustrating string of five consecutive extra-inning games. It marked the first time since March 12 that FSU did not bat in the ninth inning - or later.

"There's no two ways about it, it is a relief," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "We got a big lead. We didn't know how to act."

Wake Forest (7-14, 2-5) suffered its fifth consecutive loss since taking two of three games from North Carolina.

FSU junior left-hander Sean Gilmartin (5-0) never let the Demon Deacons in the game, limiting them to four hits and an unearned run in six innings. Wake Forest contributed to its own demise as starter Austin Stadler and three relievers combined to issue 13 walks and two hit batters.

Mike McGee, returning to the starting lineup for the first time since March 18, went 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI doubles to lead the way. Sherman Johnson (2-for-3) broke out of an extended hitting slump and contributed as pair of RBI, while Justin Gonzalez also picked up two hits.

Four of those nine hits came in the six-run fourth, including RBI doubles by McGee and Johnson and an RBI single by Gonzalez as the Seminoles pushed their lead to 11-0.

Still, it was Boyd's blast in the first, high off the scoreboard in left, broke the ice for a team that had dropped four of five games despite being outscored by just four runs during that stretch.

Boyd came to the plate with the bases full following a walk, two errors and McGee's first RBI double.

"You just get in there looking for a good pitch to hit and hopefully you can get something done with it," Boyd said. "That was the case tonight. Sometimes you do it, sometimes you don't.

"It was change-up away. Obviously you're not supposed to pull that pitch, but I was sitting on off-speed, because that's pretty much what a lefty wants to do to right-handed batter in a situation like that. I definitely got a good swing on it."

It was Boyd's second homer of the season, but the sophomore first baseman's first career grand slam.

At that point, the `Noles put the ball in the capable hands of Gilmartin, who kept the Deacs in check.

"When you get a five-run lead, the last thing you're thinking about is striking people out," Martin said. "Gilly went out there and did exactly what he was supposed to do, get quick outs and get his team in the dugout."

"He didn't give up an earned run. We're really pleased with his performance."

Gilmartin seemed more excited about seeing his teammates enjoy some success at the plate than moving to 5-0 on the year and lowering his ERA to 1.43.

"It was a lot better for our offense than it was for our pitching, to jump out to the early lead," he said. "More than anything else it was good to get the guys who had been struggling at the plate some confidence."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        1  1  0   0  3  1  0  1
  Wil Breton            PH-LF     1  0  0   0  1  1  0  0
Rafael Lopez            C         3  2  1   1  0  0  2  1
  Parker Brunelle       C         1  0  0   0  1  0  4  0
Mike McGee              CF        2  2  2   2  2  0  0  0
  Seth Miller           PR-CF     2  0  0   0  0  0  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        3  2  0   0  1  1  3  0
  Robby Stahl           RF        2  0  0   0  0  1  2  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        3  2  1   4  1  0  5  0
  Jack Posey            1B        2  0  1   0  0  1  3  0
Sherman Johnson         3B-2B     3  1  2   2  2  0  1  1
Stuart Tapley           LF-3B     4  0  0   0  1  2  3  2
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  1  2   1  1  0  1  1
Taiwan Easterling       DH        3  1  0   1  0  0  0  0
  Sean O'Brien          PH-2B     1  0  0   0  0  0  1  1
Sean Gilmartin          P                            0  1
  Peter Miller          P                            0  0
  Robby Scott           P                            0  0
  Connor Nolan          P                            0  1
                                 ========================
FSU                              35 12  9  11 13  7 27  9
Opp                              31  4  4   2  7  7 24  7

E - Opp-3, FSU-Parker Brunelle (1), Stuart Tapley (1)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Mike McGee 2 (5), Sherman Johnson (6), Justin Gonzalez (4)
HR - FSU-Jayce Boyd (2)
HBP - FSU-Rafael Lopez (3), Taiwan Easterling (1)
SH - Opp-1
SF - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Sean Gilmartin       W (5-0)    6.0  4  1  0  1  4
Peter Miller                    0.2  0  3  1  3  1
Robby Scott                     1.1  0  0  0  2  2
Connor Nolan                    1.0  0  0  0  1  0
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  4  4  1  7  7
Opp                  L          8.0  9 12 10 13  7


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Wake Forest
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
0
0
4
4
3
Florida State
5
0
0
6
1
0
0
0
x
12
9
2
Attendance: 5,031

Wake Forest 8, Florida State 0
03/26/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

'Wake' Up Call?

Seminoles shut down by Wake Forest lefty, 8-0.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Wake Forest used a quick start and outstanding pitching from Tim Cooney to deal fifth-ranked Florida State a rare Atlantic Coast Conference home shutout loss.

Cooney struck out 11 and scattered five hits over 7.2 innings, quieting a Saturday night Dick Howser Stadium crowd of 5,633.

"The guy did a great job, he really did," FSU coach Mike Martin said of Cooney. "He showed why he's one of the best pitchers in our league. It was a beautifully pitched ballgame. He carved us up."

The Seminoles (17-6, 5-3 ACC) got off to auspicious start. Wake Forest jumped out to a 3-0 lead against short-lived starter Scott Sitz in the first inning.

Steven Brooks reached on a fly ball single when center fielder Mike McGee slipped and fell, and Pat Blair pushed a bunt single up the third base line that refused to roll foul.

Mac Williamson put the first well-hit ball in play - over the left field fence for a 3-0 lead. Sitz struck out the side, but not before offering up a pair of walk.

"We broke back on a ball that landed in, and then a nice bunt, where we hesitated whether we were going to pick it up ... or we were going to let it roll," Martin said. "One or the other, you better do it quickly. The next guy made us pay for it. Little did I know, they didn't need but one of those (runs)."

Wake Forest (8-14, 3-5) . He did what we asked him to do and Mr. Cooney said, `It doesn't matter who you throw out there. I'm facing something else, other than Busch.' He did a great job of making us waste a very good reliever."

added two runs in the second on a pair of walks, two singles and a sacrifice fly. Carlos Lopez followed Matt Conway's run-scoring sacrifice with an RBI single to left, which brought an end to Sitz's start.

Trailing 5-0, FSU turned to former starter Brian Busch to replace Sitz. Busch held the Demon Deacons in check with 3.1 innings of one-hit, shutout relief, matching his season high with five strikeouts while issuing just one walk.

"He [Busch] did what we asked him to do and Mr. Cooney said, `It doesn't matter who you throw out there. I'm facing something else, other than Busch,'" Martin said. "He did a great job of making us waste a very good reliever."

Cooney was more than comfortable pitching with a five-run lead. The junior left-hander allowed just one hit - a James Ramsey double in the second - through the first four innings, facing just one batter over the minimum. In the fifth, he quieted the Seminoles most serious threat, enticing Stuart Tapley into an inning-ending double play after Sherman Johnson and Justin Gonzalez strung together one-out singles.

Florida State managed just six hits - two by Ramsey - on a night when they had an opportunity to open up a three-game lead in the Atlantic Division. Instead, they'll head into Sunday's series rubber match hoping that Gary Merians can deliver in his first weekend start in nearly a month.

"It really is a big game for us tomorrow," Martin said.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  0  1   0  0  1  0  2
Rafael Lopez            DH        4  0  0   0  0  3  0  0
Mike McGee              CF        4  0  0   0  0  4  7  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  0  2   0  0  1  1  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  0  0   0  0  0  6  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        3  0  1   0  0  0  0  2
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  0  1   0  0  2  0  0
Stuart Tapley           LF        2  0  0   0  1  0  1  0
Parker Brunelle         C         3  0  1   0  0  1 12  0
Scott Sitz              P                            0  0
  Brian Busch           P                            0  0
  Mack Waugh            P                            0  0
  Tye Buckley           P                            0  0
  Tyler Everett         P                            0  0
  Adam Simmons          P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              31  0  6   0  1 12 27  4
Opp                              37  8 11   7  9 12 27  7

E - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (5)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-James Ramsey (5)
HR - Opp-1
SF - Opp-2
SB - Opp-1
CS - FSU-Parker Brunelle (1)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Scott Sitz           L (2-1)    1.2  5  5  5  4  4
Brian Busch                     3.1  1  0  0  1  5
Mack Waugh                      0.2  3  2  2  1  1
Tye Buckley                     0.2  1  0  0  0  1
Tyler Everett                   1.2  0  0  0  1  0
Adam Simmons                    1.0  1  1  1  2  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0 11  8  8  9 12
Opp                  W          9.0  6  0  0  1 12


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Wake Forest
3
2
0
0
0
2
0
0
1
8
11
1
Florida State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
1
Attendance: 5,633

Florida State 11, Wake Forest 2
03/27/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Bats Bounce Back.

The Seminoles belted three homers and cruised behind Merians, 11-2.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - It took the Florida State baseball team three batters Sunday to do what it couldn't a night earlier - put runs on the board against Wake Forest.

Mike McGee hammered a two-run home run in the first and James Ramsey followed with a solo shot on the next pitch, spurring the fifth-ranked Seminoles to an 11-2 win over the Demon Deacons.

"It was nice that we got out there today an established ourselves early with a three spot in the first and a five spot in the second," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "It gives you a relaxing feeling."

The Seminoles (18-6, 6-3 ACC) responded to Saturday night's 8-0 shutout loss by racing to an 8-1 after two innings and were never threatened. With its 24th consecutive Sunday victory, FSU won its second Atlantic Coast Conference series of the season.

Junior right-hander Gary Merians limited the Demon Deacons to five hits and one earned run over six innings behind a potent attack.

Six of FSU's 10 hits went for extra bases, including its first five of the game. The early barrage, which began with a leadoff double by Devon Travis and included McGee's team-leading fifth homer of the year and Ramsey's fourth, continued in the second.

Justin Gonzalez opened the five-run frame with a one-out homer to right-center and the `Noles tacked on four, two-out runs after a Wake Forest error. Ramsey (2-for-4) contributed a two-run double and Jayce Boyd added a two-run single as FSU pushed its lead to 8-1.

Ramsey provided a momentum-building defensive play to set up the onslaught in the first. The junior right fielder picked up third baseman Sherman Johnson's errant throw, which allowed Wake's Pat Blair to score, and gunned out Mac Williamson with a perfect strike to catcher Rafael Lopez.

"The challenge was put on us today to win every inning and that's what we did," Ramsey said. "We came out there after they put one up (in the first)...and before we knew it, we got our bats rolling."

Stuart Tapley's two-run, two-out single in the fourth pushed the lead to 10-1. Wake Forest (8-15, 3-6) never did find its groove at the plate, even after a 32-minute lightning delay brought an end to Merians' performance.

Pitching to contact with the lead, Merians (4-1) looked strong in his first start since March 8 against Maine. He threw 88 pitches, including 59 for strikes and issued just one walk while striking out two.

The junior college transfer had experienced some tingling in his fingers, which led the coaching staff to shut him down for a couple weeks. He made his first appearance since March 8 on Wednesday against Stetson and was saddled with the loss in the 11-inning affair.

"I thought Gary Merians pitched extremely well; spotted the ball well," Martin said. "It was a big lift for us. We needed something big for us to happen."

"It was good to come back and start after the little break there with the elbow," Merians said. "It felt good today."

Martin indicated that Merians' performance was strong enough to keep him in the rotation next weekend when the Seminoles hit the road for a three-game ACC series at Maryland. FSU currently holds a two-game Atlantic Division lead over Boston College, Clemson and NC State.

"I've always been a starter. I feel like it's a little easier for me," said Merians, who is anxious to get another weekend start. "It's why I'm here, to compete and pitch on weekends. [Coach Martin] putting the ball in my hands lets me know they trust me. I'm going to see what I can do next weekend."

Four Seminoles enjoyed multi-RBI games, led by Ramsey's three. McGee, Boyd and Tapley knocked in two each. Gonzalez was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        3  1  1   0  1  0  2  3
Sherman Johnson         3B        5  1  0   0  0  1  0  5
Mike McGee              CF        2  2  1   2  1  0  2  0
  Seth Miller           CF        2  0  1   0  0  1  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  2  2   3  0  1  1  1
  Robby Stahl           PH-RF     0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        2  1  1   2  2  0  8  1
  Jack Posey            PH-1B     1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
Rafael Lopez            C         2  1  0   0  2  0  7  0
  Parker Brunelle       PH-C      1  0  0   0  0  0  2  0
Stuart Tapley           LF        4  0  1   2  0  0  2  0
  Wil Breton            PH        1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  2  2   1  0  1  0  2
Taiwan Easterling       DH-LF     3  1  1   0  0  0  1  0
Gary Merians            P                            0  0
  Robby Scott           P                            0  0
  Robert Benincasa      P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              34 11 10  10  7  6 27 12
Opp                              33  2  7   1  1  6 24 12

E - Opp-3, FSU-Devon Travis (6), Sherman Johnson (3)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (12), Seth Miller (3), James Ramsey (6)
HR - FSU-Mike McGee (5), James Ramsey (4), Justin Gonzalez (3)
HBP - FSU-Taiwan Easterling (2)
SH - FSU-Devon Travis (3)
SB - FSU-Sherman Johnson (4), Jayce Boyd (5)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Gary Merians         W (4-1)    6.0  5  2  1  1  2
Robby Scott                     1.0  2  0  0  0  1
Robert Benincasa                1.0  0  0  0  0  1
Daniel Bennett                  1.0  0  0  0  0  2
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  7  2  1  1  6
Opp                  L          8.0 10 11  8  7  6


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Wake Forest
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
7
3
Florida State
3
5
0
2
0
0
1
0
x
11
10
2
Attendance: 4,378

Florida State 5, Florida 2
03/29/2011, Jacksonville, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Chomped Down.

Tapley's blast, bullpen brilliance take bite out of Gators.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

JACKSONVILLE, FL - Finishing games had not been a strong suit for Mike Martin's Florida State baseball team in recent weeks.

That made the Seminoles Tuesday night closing act in a 5-2 win over No.3 Florida even more satisfying.

Stuart Tapley belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning and closer Mike McGee helped the seventh-ranked Seminoles shut the door in front of 10,708 at The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. It was the second-largest crowd to ever watch a college baseball game in the state.

"It was fun to see us play like we're capable of playing," said FSU coach Mike Martin, whose team won its fourth consecutive game against Florida in Jacksonville dating to 2008. "I'm just very pleased the way we got it done against a very good Florida baseball team. This is good for college baseball all over our state. This is the biggest game in our state in college baseball. No other schools will draw 10,000.

"It's only one [game] of a lot, but it's still satisfying."

Most satisfying of it all was how the Seminoles (19-6, 6-3 ACC) responded down the stretch. FSU erased an early 2-0 deficit on James Ramsey's two-run double in the fourth, received brilliant work from the bullpen, then broke the deadlock in the sixth. Ramsey led off the second with his second double, moved to third on a passed ball and scored when UF second baseman Josh Adams failed to catch Jayce Boyd's wind-blown fly ball in the infield.

Tapley turned the 3-2 lead into a three-run cushion in the eighth when his two-out, opposite field blast off Nick Maronde settled in the first rows of the jam-packed right field bleachers.

"For me, it was awesome," McGee said of Tapley's blast. "I've never seen our team that excited before. Guys in the dugout were going crazy; the bullpen was jumping up and down. That was as big a moment as we've had in my career here.

"I love it for Stu. He's a great guy and to get a big hit like that, I'm so happy for him."

So was Martin.

"Stuart has been a big part of our program for four years," Martin said. "We have basically trusted him because we know he's a winner...He's hit a number of big home runs in his career, but I'll have to admit I don't know if there's been one bigger."

McGee happily took the hill in the ninth and struck out a pair for his fourth save of the season and second against the Gators.

The on-field celebration was a satisfying moment for the Seminoles, who had endured a 1-4 stretch in five consecutive extra-inning games, which began with a 5-4 loss at Florida on March 15. The Seminoles found a way to come through with timely hitting and relief work of Robert Benincasa, Scott Sitz, Brian Busch, Daniel Bennett and McGee, followed starter Hunter Scantling, with six innings of one-hit work.

The Gators (21-5, 4-2 SEC), who came into the game hitting .316, registered just one hit after the first inning.

"I would say that our pitchers were pretty impressive tonight," Martin said, tongue-in-cheek.

It didn't start quite that way. Florida catcher Mike Zunino continued his torrid streak with bat in hand. His RBI double into the left field corner extended his hitting streak to 14 games and gave the Gators a 1-0 lead in the first. Two innings later Zunino made Scantling and the Seminoles pay for a leadoff walk, an error and a hit batter with a run-scoring sacrifice to center field.

Florida starter Anthony DeSclafani sailed through the first four innings, facing only one batter over the minimum as the Seminoles failed to muster a hit. The complexion of the game, however, changed quickly in the fourth.

Sherman Johnson reached on a bad-hop single to the right side and McGee sliced a double down the right field line, which brought UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan to the mound. With the Gators' closer on a controlled start, O'Sullivan turned the ball over to left-hander Steven Rodriguez.

Ramsey sent Rodriguez's first pitch into the gap in deep right-center, as McGee chased Johnson home with the tying run.

The Gators' lone hit after the first was Preston Tucker's opposite field flare single in the seventh off Scott Sitz (3-1), who ironically enough, picked up the victory with one inning of work. It was Sitz's second win of the season against Florida and the third of his career.

Finishing strong, something that evaded the Seminoles during their recent string of extra-inning and one-run games, may be just the thing Martin's team needs moving forward.

"I'm hoping it is," McGee said. "We've had a lot of struggles and a lot of fights over the last several games. This one, I hope we finally got over that hump and we can take this win and roll with it."

Count Tapley among those who believes it could be a momentum-changing victory.

"This club is a very different club," Tapley said. "We don't win a ballgame without everybody. We can't win without everybody.

"We really strive for, 'It's not how you start, it's how you finish.' If we do that, if we finish strong, we're a hard team to beat. As a whole, we did that very well tonight. Our pen threw exceptionally well."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  0  0   0  0  0  2  4
Sherman Johnson         3B        3  1  1   0  1  1  1  0
Mike McGee              CF-P      4  1  1   0  0  1  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  1  2   2  0  1  3  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  0  0   0  0  0  7  0
Rafael Lopez            C         4  1  1   0  0  2  9  0
Stuart Tapley           LF        4  1  1   2  0  0  1  0
Parker Brunelle         DH        4  0  1   0  0  0  0  0
  Seth Miller           CF        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        2  0  1   0  0  0  2  2
Hunter Scantling        P                            0  1
  Robert Benincasa      P                            0  1
  Scott Sitz            P                            0  0
  Brian Busch           P                            0  1
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              33  5  8   4  1  5 27  9
Opp                              29  2  3   2  4  9 24  7

E - Opp-2, FSU-Jayce Boyd 2 (5)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Mike McGee (6), James Ramsey 2 (8)
HR - FSU-Stuart Tapley (3)
HBP - Opp-1, FSU-Justin Gonzalez 2 (8)
SH - Opp-2
SF - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Hunter Scantling                3.0  2  2  1  1  3
Robert Benincasa                2.0  0  0  0  1  2
Scott Sitz           W (3-1)    1.0  1  0  0  1  1
Brian Busch                     0.2  0  0  0  0  0
Daniel Bennett                  1.1  0  0  0  0  1
Mike McGee           Sv(4)      1.0  0  0  0  1  2
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  3  2  1  4  9
Opp                  L          8.0  8  5  4  1  5


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
2
Florida State
0
0
0
2
0
1
0
2
x
5
8
2
Attendance: 10,708

Florida State 6, Maryland 0
04/01/2011, College Park, Md.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Stopped Cold.

Gilmartin, Waugh combine on four-hit shutout at Maryland, 6-0.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

COLLEGE PARK, MD - The big chill that settled in over Maryland's Shipley Stadium Friday evening could not stop No. 7 Florida State from continuing its mastery of the Terrapins.

Sean Gilmartin and Mack Waugh combined on a four-hit shutout as the Seminoles scored their 40th second victory over the Terrapins, 6-0.

A two-run first inning provided the Seminoles (20-6, 7-3 ACC) with all the runs they would need behind the Gilmartin-Waugh tandem. Devon Travis earned a leadoff walk, advanced on Sherman Johnson's single and scored on James Ramsey's one-out single through the right side. Jayce Boyd followed with a perfectly executed RBI squeeze bunt to put FSU up 2-0.

"It was a big play for us because we needed to get that run in from third," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "The (Maryland) starter was throwing hard and we felt like we needed to get that run in. We knew if we could get the bunt down, we could get that run in. Jayce Boyd did a good job of executing."

On a night when the 'Noles managed a season-low five hits, they took advantage of a Maryland pitching staff that issued 12 walks and hit a batter. That lack of control offset the 13 strikeouts the four Maryland pitchers combined to produce.

Florida State broke the game open in the fourth, chasing hard-throwing starter Chuck Gysels, who walked the first two batters he faced and hit the third. Gysels (1-3) was lifted in favor of Michael Boyden, who walked Johnson to force in a run, then yielded a two-run single to left by Mike McGee. Boyden walked Ramsey to reload the bases and was promptly replaced by Charlie Haslup, who issued a run-scoring free pass to Boyd for a 6-0 FSU lead.

That would be all the 'Noles could muster as they left the bases loaded for a second time in four innings. On the night, FSU stranded 11 baserunners.

Gilmartin (6-0) made the cushion stand up. Of his three hits allowed, two never left Maryland's field turf infield.

"Gilly has a way of taking advantage of every opportunity," said Martin. "He got two runs in the top of the first inning and he used those two runs. We had a chance to really blow it open, but only got four more. With him [Gilmartin] on the mound you certainly do feel comfortable with a six-run lead."

Gilmartin (6-0) struck out nine, but did issue a season-high three walks and hit a pair of batters over six frames. Waugh came on to start the seventh and registered three strikeouts without a walk for his first career save.

"Mack pitched very well," said Martin. "I was very pleased he was able to get the save. He certainly deserved it. We didn't want to go to anybody else with the weather being what it was. No doubt, it was the toughest night that we've had to play baseball this year."

Despite temperatures that started at 50 degrees and dipped throughout the blustery game, FSU was able to register its fourth shutout victory of the season. That's the most by the Seminoles since they amassed five in 2007.

The Seminoles have now won three consecutive games and improved to 61-3 all-time against the Terrapins, who slipped to 12-14 overall and 1-9 in ACC play.

"It was a good win," Martin said. "Let's hope it carries over."

The Seminoles will send sophomore right-hander Scott Sitz (3-1, 3.86) up against Maryland right-hander David Carroll (4-1, 2.56) when the teams meet again Saturday at 3 p.m.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        2  2  0   0  2  2  0  2
Sherman Johnson         3B        2  2  1   1  3  0  0  1
Mike McGee              CF        5  0  1   2  0  2  0  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  0  1   1  1  1  3  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        3  0  1   2  1  1  5  1
Rafael Lopez            C         4  0  0   0  1  1 10  4
Stuart Tapley           LF        3  0  0   0  1  3  2  0
  Seth Miller           LF        1  0  0   0  0  1  3  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  1  0   0  2  1  3  0
Parker Brunelle         DH        3  1  1   0  1  1  0  0
Sean Gilmartin          P                            1  0
  Mack Waugh            P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              30  6  5   6 12 13 27  8
Opp                              29  0  4   0  3 12 27  9

2B - FSU-Jayce Boyd (7)
HBP - Opp-2, FSU-Devon Travis (4)
SH - FSU-Jayce Boyd (1)
CS - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Sean Gilmartin       W (6-0)    6.0  3  0  0  3  9
Mack Waugh           Sv(1)      3.0  1  0  0  0  3
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  4  0  0  3 12
Opp                  L          9.0  5  6  6 12 13


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
2
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
6
5
0
Maryland
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
Attendance: 949

Maryland 5, Florida State 0
04/02/2011, College Park, Md.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Streak Buster.

Seminoles' 40-game win streak stopped at Maryland.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

COLLEGE PARK, MD - Florida State endured sleet, rain, cold and wind - and that was before Saturday's game at Maryland began.

The seventh-ranked Seminoles didn't fare much better when play began as 6-foot-8 Maryland right-hander David Carroll and his Terrapin teammates dished out a 5-0 defeat.

Carroll (5-1) limited the Seminoles (20-7, 7-4) to three hits over 7.1 innings and the Terrapins used a three-run fourth inning to snap a 40-game losing streak against Florida State.

"There's not much you can say when you only get three hits and get shutout," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "The only thing you can say is David Carroll is pretty doggone good. He threw a pitch that will get a lot of folks out - that's that cutter. He dominated us."

It was the second consecutive Saturday shutout loss for the Seminoles, who opened the week with an emotional 5-2 win over Florida, then opened the weekend series with a 6-0 win over the Terrapins.

Scott Sitz (3-2) took the loss for the Seminoles.

After managing just five hits in Friday's shutout victory, the Seminoles managed only first inning single by James Ramsey, an infield hit by Stuart Tapley in the fifth and a Devon Travis double in the eighth. In each instance FSU failed to break through.

Ramsey's single through the middle went for naught when Devon Travis was thrown out at home to end the top of the first inning. Tapley's swinging bunt single in the fifth loaded the bases with no outs, but Justin Gonzalez looked at a third strike and Seth Miller bounced back to the mound and into a 1-2-3 double play.

Travis' double in the eighth ended Carroll's day but Maryland reliever Brady Kirkpatrick preserved the shutout. With runners at second and third, he got Sherman Johnson to line out to short and then struck out Mike McGee.

Florida State will carry its streak of 24 consecutive Sunday victories into the series finale, with Gary Merians (4-1) getting the start against Maryland left-hander Eric Potter.

"We don't really think about [the streak], but Sundays tend to be our day," said Johnson. "We'll just try to be focused and come out and play our best baseball. It's a really important game for us."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        3  0  1   0  1  0  2  2
Sherman Johnson         3B        3  0  0   0  1  0  0  1
Mike McGee              CF        4  0  0   0  0  4  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        3  0  1   0  1  1  3  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        3  0  0   0  1  0 10  1
Rafael Lopez            C         1  0  0   0  3  0  1  0
Stuart Tapley           LF        4  0  1   0  0  1  3  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        2  0  0   0  0  1  2  3
Seth Miller             DH        3  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
Scott Sitz              P                            0  3
  Connor Nolan          P                            1  0
  Robby Scott           P                            0  0
  Adam Simmons          P                            0  2
  Tye Buckley           P                            0  0
  Tyler Everett         P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              26  0  3   0  7  8 24 12
Opp                              34  5 10   5  6  1 27 13

2B - Opp-2, FSU-Devon Travis (13)
HBP - Opp-1, FSU-Justin Gonzalez (9)
SB - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (1)
CS - FSU-Rafael Lopez (1)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Scott Sitz           L (3-2)    4.0  5  3  3  2  1
Connor Nolan                    0.1  2  1  1  1  0
Robby Scott                     0.1  0  0  0  1  0
Adam Simmons                    1.2  2  1  1  2  0
Tye Buckley                     0.2  0  0  0  0  0
Tyler Everett                   1.0  1  0  0  0  0
                               ===================
FSU                             8.0 10  5  5  6  1
Opp                  W          9.0  3  0  0  7  8


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
Maryland
0
0
0
3
1
0
1
0
x
5
10
0
Attendance: 508

Florida State 12, Maryland 3
04/03/2011, College Park, Md.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Never On Sunday!

'Noles wrap up Maryland series in convincing fashion.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

COLLEGE PARK, MD - Practicing patience at the plate, Florida State continued its "Never On Sunday" ways, dispatching Maryland 12-3 for a series clinching victory.

Mike McGee and Stuart Tapley homered as the seventh-ranked Seminoles posted their 25th consecutive Sunday victory; a streak that began in 2009.

One day after seeing their 40-game win streak against the Terrapins come to an end, the Seminoles (21-7, 8-3 ACC) battered six Maryland pitchers for 13 hits. FSU's most productive day at the plate since rapping 15 hits against Boston College on March 12 was further aided by a Maryland staff which issued 15 walks. The Terrapins also committed four errors as the Seminoles kept the pressure on throughout the day.

"It was a good bounce-back for us," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "After yesterday we were motivated to get it done today and I'm just very pleased with the approach all of our guys had."

After trading runs with the Terrapins (13-15, 2-9) through the first two innings, the Seminoles broke the game open with two runs in the third and three in the fourth. McGee snapped out of a slump with a two-run homer over the center field fence in the fourth to give FSU a 7-2 lead. It was his sixth homer of the season and the 48th of his career, as the senior moved into a tie for sixth on the career list with Paul Sorrento.

Two innings later Tapley followed suit with a three-run bomb; his third of the season 32nd career four-bagger.

"My last three at-bats I really felt good," Tapley said. "I hit three balls on the nose and I was lucky to get one up in the air and get it out of here."

The early onslaught was more than enough support for starter Gary Merians, who scattered six hits and allowed a pair of runs over five innings and moved to 5-1 on the season. Brian Busch tossed two innings of relief, while Robert Benincasa and Daniel Bennett each worked an inning to close out the victory.

After managing just eight hits over the first two games of the series, the Seminoles received plenty of production up and down the lineup. Leadoff batter Devon Travis (3-for-4) and Justin Gonzalez (3-for-4) lead the way, while James Ramsey (2-for-3) extended his team-leading hitting streak to six games. Tapley added a double to finish off a two-hit day as well.

Equally impressive was Florida State's flawless defensive effort for the third consecutive game.

"It's always big and defense is something we take a lot of pride in," said Travis. "To see a zero at the end of the (scoring) column is always big."

To play flawlessly in the field over three cold and dreary days - on artificial turf - was no small feat.

"The weather and the elements are kind of tricky, but we just kept grinding it out and today was a much better day," Tapley added "We had to come to play and we did get some timely hitting and some timely pitching."

FSU's top two batters in the order - Travis and Sherman Johnson - combined to reach base on nine of 12 plate appearances, repeatedly setting the table. Johnson was hitless but walked four times.

"It's always important for the leadoff guy to get us going," said Travis, who walked twice in addition to his three hits. "[The coaches] were stressing to me how bad we need to get on them early. I definitely took a little initiative to get my team going. I've been struggling lately. It was really good to see Tapley come through. Ramsey is as hot as ever and McGee is going to get his hits. It was good day."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  3  3   0  2  0  1  3
Sherman Johnson         3B        2  0  0   1  4  0  1  4
Mike McGee              CF        5  2  1   2  1  1  3  0
James Ramsey            RF        3  2  2   1  1  1  3  0
  Robby Stahl           PH-RF     1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        6  1  1   0  0  1 11  0
Rafael Lopez            C         3  1  1   0  3  0  5  2
Stuart Tapley           LF        5  3  2   3  1  1  1  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  0  3   2  2  0  2  3
Taiwan Easterling       DH        1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
  Parker Brunelle       PH-DH     2  0  0   0  0  2  0  0
  Seth Miller           PH-DH     1  0  0   0  1  0  0  0
Gary Merians            P                            0  1
  Brian Busch           P                            0  0
  Robert Benincasa      P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              37 12 13   9 15  8 27 13
Opp                              37  3 13   3  1  5 27  9

E - Opp-4
2B - Opp-3, FSU-James Ramsey (9), Stuart Tapley (2), Justin Gonzalez 2 (6)
HR - FSU-Mike McGee (6), Stuart Tapley (4)
HBP - Opp-1
SH - Opp-1
SF - FSU-James Ramsey (1)
SB - Opp-2
CS - Opp-1, FSU-Justin Gonzalez (2)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Gary Merians         W (5-1)    5.0  6  2  2  1  1
Brian Busch                     2.0  4  1  1  0  2
Robert Benincasa                1.0  1  0  0  0  0
Daniel Bennett                  1.0  2  0  0  0  2
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0 13  3  3  1  5
Opp                  L          9.0 13 12 11 15  8


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
1
1
2
3
0
3
0
2
0
12
13
0
Maryland
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
3
13
4
Attendance: 649

Florida State 10, Valdosta State 2
04/06/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Rammer Time!

Ramsey homers and Trexler earns first win against VSU.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Redshirt freshman David Trexler earned his first career victory as No. 7 Florida State rolled past Valdosta State, 10-2 at Dick Howser Stadium.

In a pre-arranged controlled start, Trexler (1-0) tossed three innings of shutout baseball, surrendering only a pair of infield singles. The lanky right-hander established a new career high with four strikeouts in his second start and fifth appearance. He did not issue a walk.

Neither did his fellow FSU pitchers. In all, eight Seminoles combined for 10 strikeouts without issuing a walk.

More notably, there were no slow walks to the mound Wednesday night by FSU coach Mike Martin, who missed the game while recovering at home from surgery to repair his left shoulder on Tuesday.

"We always miss coach Martin," said associate head coach Jamey Shouppe. "But he's coached us a long time; not only the players but the coaches as well. The only difference was we didn't have that insurance of having coach beside us."

Martin's absence tested the Seminoles' veteran leadership; something that showed up during Tuesday's practice and carried right through to the game.

With Trexler dealing from the hill early and FSU batters patiently working counts - the `Noles drew 13 walks from seven VSU pitchers - it was a familiar scene without a familiar face on the top step of the dugout.

The Seminoles (22-7, 8-4 ACC) seized control from the start with three runs in the first and four in the second. FSU loaded the bases in the first on a hit batter and a pair of walks before Jayce Boyd lifted a run-scoring sacrifice fly to center. Rafael Lopez followed with a two-out, two-run single through the middle for a 3-0 lead.

Mike McGee contributed an RBI single in the second before James Ramsey unloaded his fifth homer of the season - a three-run shot that cleared Chieftan Way beyond the right field screen.

Ramsey's blast came on the 11th pitch of his at-bat against VSU's Kyle Teague.

"We grinded out some great at-bats tonight," Shouppe said. "That [Ramsey's home run] was the big hit that got things a little more comfortable for us."

The 7-0 lead was more than enough against the Blazers (14-18), who were facing the Seminoles for the first time since 1988. Trexler made sure of it, facing one batter over the minimum in his three innings, largely on the strength of his biting curveball.

"My curveball in the pen was probably my most consistent pitch," Trexler said. "When I stepped foot on the game mound, I found my change-up. So my off-speed was really working for me tonight. I had little control issues with my fastball, but any time you can set up a fastball with an off-speed pitch, you're doing all right."

Shouppe was more than pleased with the extended work Trexler turned in. Of his 39 pitches, 26 were strikes, including 15 of 17 curves.

"It was, without a doubt, his best outing as a Seminole," Shouppes said. "I think everybody saw why we get so excited talking about him...He's got a chance to be very, very good. It's going to be a long process, a building process for him. We just want to get him confident. The sky's the limit once he gets a little confidence."

FSU tacked on single runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth to round on the scoring as doubles by Justin Gonzalez, Ramsey and Devon Travis figured in each of those scoring frames.

Valdosta State spoiled FSU's bid for a fifth shutout this season when Josh Vining doubled off Adam Simmons and scored on Cameron Graves' RBI single in the seventh. The Blazers added an unearned run in the ninth.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        2  3  1   1  3  0  2  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  1  0   0  1  2  0  4
Mike McGee              CF-P      5  2  1   2  1  0  1  0
James Ramsey            RF        3  2  1   3  1  2  0  0
  Seth Miller           RF-LF     1  0  1   1  0  0  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        2  0  0   1  2  1 12  1
Rafael Lopez            DH        2  0  1   2  3  0  0  0
  Robby Stahl           RF        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Stuart Tapley           LF        2  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
  Taiwan Easterling     PR-LF     0  1  0   0  1  0  1  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  1  1   0  0  2  0  4
Parker Brunelle         C         4  0  1   0  1  0 10  0
David Trexler           P                            1  1
  Tye Buckley           P                            0  0
  Robert Benincasa      P                            0  0
  Robby Scott           P                            0  0
  Tyler Everett         P                            0  1
  Adam Simmons          P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  1
                                 ========================
FSU                              29 10  7  10 13  8 27 12
Opp                              34  2  7   1  0 10 24  5

E - FSU-Sherman Johnson 2 (5), Justin Gonzalez (5)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (14), Seth Miller (4), Justin Gonzalez (7)
HR - FSU-James Ramsey (5)
HBP - FSU-Sherman Johnson (2), Stuart Tapley 2 (4), Justin Gonzalez (10)
SF - FSU-Jayce Boyd (4)
SB - FSU-Justin Gonzalez (3), Parker Brunelle (1)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
David Trexler        W (1-0)    3.0  2  0  0  0  4
Tye Buckley                     1.0  0  0  0  0  1
Robert Benincasa                0.2  1  0  0  0  0
Robby Scott                     0.1  0  0  0  0  1
Tyler Everett                   1.0  0  0  0  0  0
Adam Simmons                    1.0  2  1  1  0  2
Daniel Bennett                  1.0  0  0  0  0  0
Mike McGee                      1.0  2  1  0  0  2
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  7  2  1  0 10
Opp                  L          8.0  7 10 10 13  8


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Valdosta State
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
2
7
0
Florida State
3
4
0
0
1
0
1
1
x
10
7
3
Attendance: 3,640

Florida State 5, North Carolina 3
04/08/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Late-Game Heroics.

Seminoles rally past Tar Heels with three-run eighth, 5-3.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Friday night began as a pitching duel between the staff aces from a pair of top 10 teams. It ended with offensive fireworks.

Seventh-ranked Florida State erased one-run deficit with a three-run eighth inning, which lifted the Seminoles to a 5-3 victory over sizzling North Carolina at Dick Howser Stadium.

Jayce Boyd followed James Ramsey's game-tying RBI double with a go-ahead sacrifice fly to center to put the Seminoles in front 4-3. Sherman Johnson snapped out of 0-for-13 slump with an RBI double for an insurance run.

"I've been in a lot of college baseball games that were really well-played," said FSU coach Mike Martin. "This was one of them; one that you feel a little heartbreak when their guy hits the ball out on Gilly [Sean Gilmartin] in the eighth. Yet, as a coach, you know there's six more outs and our guys stayed tough and got it done in the eighth."

It was a first for the 'Noles (23-7, 9-4 ACC), who were 0-3 when trailing after seven and eight innings this season and 1-4 in extra-inning games. In the process, FSU snapped a four-game winning streak by the Tar Heels (27-5, 10-3).

The Tar Heels threatened to extend that stretch in the eighth when freshman sensation Colin Moran's laser-like, two-out, two-run homer to right - after a Devon Travis error at second base - gave the Tar Heels a 3-2 lead. The blast put an end to FSU starter Sean Gilmartin's night and his bid to earn his first career win against UNC.

"We were just focused on not letting Gilly lose, because he was pretty mad after really throwing one bad pitch the whole game," said Johnson.

Daniel Bennett (2-1) struck out Jesse Wierzbicki to retire the side and the Seminoles quickly went to work in turning his five-pitch appearance into a victory in the home half of the eighth.

Rafael Lopez (2-for-3) got the rally started off UNC reliever Michael Morin with a single to left and Mike McGee was plunked in the back. With runners at first and second, Ramsey extended his team-leading hitting streak to eight games with an RBI double to right, knotting the score. Cody Penny relieved Morin and relinquished the go-ahead sacrifice fly to Boyd and Johnson's RBI double to right.

"I didn't know I had a hitting streak going," said Ramsey, who came to the plate 0-for-3 on the night. "I just know I was swinging it well...When the game's on the line you just really want to do it for your teammates. That's that extra little push there that helps you confidence-wise at the end of the ballgame."

Martin, who missed Wednesday's game against Valdosta State following shoulder surgery, said it was especially gratifying to see Ramsey and Johnson come through in the clutch.

"I got fastball in over the plate and got a good swing on it," Johnson said.

"It's definitely huge. Any hit when you're struggling is always huge. To get another run - an insurance run - it was awesome."

So were Gilmartin and North Carolina starter Patrick Johnson, who came into the game with identical 6-0 records and dueled to a near-deadlock.

FSU's defense had a lot to do with Gilmartin's success. North Carolina stranded eight baserunners - seven in scoring position. The Seminoles turned critical double plays in the sixth and ninth innings to escape jams, and Gilmartin added a pair of defensive gems on well-hit balls up the middle to end the first and fifth innings.

"Some of the best games he [Gilmartin] has thrown are against Carolina," said Ramsey. "He's such an unselfish kid. He doesn't care about the wins and losses. He just wants to go out there and give us a shot. You can't say enough about the way he goes about his business and the complete consistency.

"We have no worries about what we're going to have on the mound."

The Seminoles' left-hander struck out eight in 7.2 innings, walked two and scattered seven hits. Only one of the Tar Heels' three runs were earned. Johnson struck out 10, walked two, yielded five hits and two runs - both earned - over 6.2 innings. Their unblemished records were preserved by the late-inning offensive dramatics from their respective teams.

The Tar Heels were staring at a deficit for the ninth consecutive game when the 'Noles mustered a run in the second when Stuart Tapley's two-out single brought home Boyd. UNC knotted the score in the fourth when Jacob Stallings followed a walk to Levi Michael and a Tommy Coyle double with a sacrifice fly.

Travis unlocked a 1-1 tie with a two-out solo blast in the fifth, which carried over the scoreboard. It was the 100th, two-out run of the season scored by the Seminoles, and second of four on the game. On the season, 102 of FSU's 226 runs have scored with two outs.

FSU's 2-1 edge stood up until Moran turned a misplaced Gilmartin change-up into his sixth homer, which pushed his ACC-leading RBI total to 44.

Still, it wasn't enough as the Seminoles authored their first late-inning, come-from-behind victory of the season.

"That's big, to beat a team like North Carolina in the last couple innings of this game," said Gilmartin. "We've just got to come out tomorrow and do the same thing."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  1  1   1  0  0  1  5
Rafael Lopez            C         3  1  2   0  1  1 10  0
Mike McGee              CF-P      2  1  1   0  1  1  1  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  1  1   1  0  2  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        3  1  1   1  0  1 12  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  0  1   1  0  0  0  1
Stuart Tapley           LF        4  0  1   1  0  2  2  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  0  0   0  0  2  1  5
Seth Miller             DH-CF     3  0  0   0  0  2  0  0
Sean Gilmartin          P                            0  2
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              30  5  8   5  2 11 27 13
Opp                              32  3  7   3  5 10 24  4

E - FSU-Devon Travis (7)
2B - Opp-2, FSU-Rafael Lopez (10), James Ramsey (10), Sherman Johnson (7)
HR - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (3)
HBP - FSU-Mike McGee (1)
SF - Opp-1, FSU-Jayce Boyd (5)
CS - FSU-Rafael Lopez (2)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Sean Gilmartin                  7.2  7  3  1  2  8
Daniel Bennett       W (2-1)    0.1  0  0  0  0  1
Mike McGee           Sv(5)      1.0  0  0  0  3  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  7  3  1  5 10
Opp                  L          8.0  8  5  5  2 11


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
North Carolina
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
0
3
7
0
Florida State
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
3
x
5
8
1
Attendance: 4,828

North Carolina 8, Florida State 5
04/09/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Empty Production.

Baseball 'Noles fail to capitalize on a 14-hit attack against UNC.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - A 14-hit attack by the Florida State baseball team - its most productive day at the plate in nearly a month - felt awfully empty at the end of Saturday night's 8-5 loss to North Carolina.

The Tar Heels' bullpen shut down the seventh-ranked Seminoles from the fifth inning to the finish, tying the Atlantic Coast Conference series at one game apiece heading into Sunday's series finale.

From the outset the game shaped up as shootout. In the end, it was decided by the UNC bullpen, which a night earlier, was unable to hold a 3-2 lead in the eighth.

"They seemed to come through with quality pitches and do a very good job of making pitches in those clutch situations," said FSU coach Mike Martin, whose team stranded 11 baserunners - seven in scoring position - and bounced into a pair of double plays.

Devon Travis, one of three 'Noles with three hits on the night, described the five runs on 14 hits as, "a little awkward."

"We just never had that big hit," Travis said. "That's what we really needed tonight and we didn't have it."

But the Seminoles (23-8, 9-5 ACC) came, oh so close.

Trailing 8-5 in the sixth, FSU came within inches of tying it on one Jayce Boyd swing. UNC left fielder Chaz Frank had other ideas.

Frank reached over the wall and pulled Boyd's potential, three-run homer back into the yard, stranding Travis and James Ramsey.

"I ran home backwards for the first time in my life," said Travis, who was at third when Boyd blasted the 0-1 fastball. "That dude [Frank] made a really nice catch. I think if there was another outfielder out there it would have left (the park)."

Boyd wasn't quite as sure as his teammate.

"I knew it had a chance," said Boyd, who was 3-for-4 on the night. "It got in on me a little bit. I hit it off the handle some. The guy made a great play on it. You've just got to say, 'Good job.' It doesn't go your way sometimes."

Things didn't go the Seminoles' way from that point forward.

North Carolina reliever Shane Taylor (2-1) was the beneficiary of Frank's snare. Taylor did more than his part after the Seminoles chased Tar Heels' starter Kent Emanuel in the fourth. He limited the Seminoles to four hits over a career-high four innings of scoreless work. In fact, FSU was held in check completely after tagging Emanuel for a season-high 10 hits and five runs before he was lifted with one out in the fifth.

The Seminoles jumped on Emanuel for a pair of runs in the first on four hits and a sacrifice fly. Ramsey's run-scoring sacrifice fly to center and Sherman Johnson's looping, opposite field RBI single staked FSU starter Scott Sitz to a 2-0 lead.

The Tar Heels (28-5, 11-3) trailed for the 10th consecutive game, but not for long as Jesse Wierzbicki tripled to open the second and Sitz walked the next two batters. Seth Baldwin's RBI single to right halved the deficit and brought Sitz's shortest start of the season to a close.

Seminoles' left-hander Brian Bush relieved Sitz and minimized the damage, limiting the Tar Heels to a pair of RBI groundballs before escaping the jam.. The one-time starter registered outs against the first 11 batters he faced; just long enough for the 'Noles to regain the lead with a two-run fourth.

FSU tied the game in the second when Taiwan Easterling raced to second on an errant throw by UNC shortstop Levi Michael and scored on Travis' RBI single. Two innings later, one-out singles by Travis and Rafael Lopez (3-for-4) capped Emanuel's night. Ramsey laid down a two-out, RBI bunt single and Boyd's lined an RBI single off Taylor that caromed into left field for a 5-3 lead.

Busch (1-1) was sailing along with two outs in the fifth until Tommy Coyle lofted a soft single to center and Jacobs Stallings sliced an RBI triple down the right field line. Colin Moran's RBI single through the right side tied the game and Jesse Wierzbicki reached on a Sherman Johnson error at third, that allowed Moran to score the go-ahead run. Frank's RBI single to right gave UNC a 7-5 lead they refused to relinquish.

"When they scored those [four] runs, they weren't really well-hit balls," Lopez said. "They were well-placed pitches. It was great to see out of Busch. Everybody was wondering when that would should up and it showed up. I was really happy for Brian."'

Busch's solid effort - and the 14 hits - were the bright spots. Now the Seminoles turn their attention to Sunday's series-deciding game. FSU has registered 25 consecutive Sunday victories and has not lost at home on a Sunday since March 8, 2009 against Boston College - 25 months ago.

"There's no question that when each team has won one game, you look at it as a situation of, 'let's see what we're all about,'" Martin said. "North Carolina has an outstanding team...I'm anxious to see how we play tomorrow."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        5  1  3   1  0  1  1  2
Rafael Lopez            C         4  2  3   0  1  1  7  2
  Parker Brunelle       C         0  0  0   0  0  0  1  0
Mike McGee              CF        5  1  1   0  0  1  3  0
James Ramsey            RF        3  0  1   2  1  1  3  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  0  3   1  1  0  7  3
Sherman Johnson         3B        5  0  1   1  0  2  0  1
Stuart Tapley           LF        5  0  1   0  0  0  1  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  0  0   0  0  3  2  0
Taiwan Easterling       DH        2  1  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Sean Gilmartin        PH-DH     2  0  1   0  0  1  0  0
Scott Sitz              P                            0  0
  Brian Busch           P                            1  0
  Robby Scott           P                            0  0
  Tye Buckley           P                            0  1
  Jack Posey            P                            1  1
                                 ========================
FSU                              39  5 14   5  3 10 27 10
Opp                              38  8 10   6  6 10 27 10

E - Opp-1, FSU-Sherman Johnson (6)
2B - FSU-Devon Travis (15), Rafael Lopez (11)
3B - Opp-2
SF - FSU-James Ramsey (2)
CS - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Scott Sitz                      1.0  3  3  3  4  2
Brian Busch          L (1-1)    4.0  4  4  2  0  4
Robby Scott                     0.2  0  1  1  2  1
Tye Buckley                     2.1  1  0  0  0  2
Jack Posey                      1.0  2  0  0  0  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0 10  8  6  6 10
Opp                  W-Sv       9.0 14  5  4  3 10


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
North Carolina
0
3
0
0
4
1
0
0
0
8
10
1
Florida State
2
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
5
14
1
Attendance: 6,343

North Carolina 7, Florida State 6
04/10/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Sunday Downer.

Seminoles' streak of 25 consecutive Sunday wins stopped by UNC.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida State spent most of Sunday's sun-splashed afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium clawing its way back from North Carolina's 32-minute, third-inning offensive barrage.

With its 25-Sunday winning streak on the line, the Seminoles came up just short of erasing a five-run deficit, falling 7-6 in a battle of top 10 Atlantic Coast Conference teams.

It was FSU's first loss on a Sunday since the 2009 ACC Championship game to Virginia, and the first at home on Sunday since March 8, 2009 against Boston College - an amazing 25-month stretch.

North Carolina reliever Michael Morin shared a celebratory chest-bump with catcher Jacob Stallings after retiring Justin Gonzalez for the final out, which snapped a streak a seven consecutive series losses to the Seminoles in Tallahassee.

"Their reliever shut us slap down," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "You've got to really give them a lot of credit, but it doesn't hide the disappointment because nobody that is in this profession that enjoys getting beat.

"Right now I'm not a happy camper."

For the second consecutive game the seventh-ranked Seminoles (23-9, 9-6 ACC) out-hit the Tar Heels (29-5, 12-3) and came away on the wrong side of the ledger. Martin watched his club strand 11 baserunners for the second consecutive game as well.

Trailing 7-2 after UNC's third inning barrage, relievers Mack Waugh and Daniel Bennett gave the Seminoles a chance by holding the Tar Heels in check the rest of the way.

Waugh get the call from the bullpen in the middle of UNC's big inning, stepping in for starter Gary Merians who opened the inning by issuing a walk, then relinquished a double and two RBI singles, which tied the game.

"It was a tough situation coming into," Waugh said. "I just tried to hit spots and make pitches, which I felt like I did. They were just getting the bat on the ball. They're a good team over there. They know how to play baseball."

Waugh was stung for three consecutive at the start and by the time he escaped the mess, the Tar Heels were in front to stay.

Martin half-heartedly joked that he didn't recognize some of his players when they finally go back to the dugout at the end of UNC's 30-minute barrage.

"After that I tried to get back out there and put up a zero and get my team back in the dugout and have them chip at the lead a little bit," he added.

The Seminoles did that, scoring two runs in the fifth and sixth to pull within one. Sherman Johnson's RBI double and Gonzalez's RBI single made it 7-4 after five innings. Mike McGee's seventh homer of the season - a two-run shot in the sixth - brought them within 7-6.

"I never lost confidence that we could get it done," said McGee, whose 49th career blast gives him sole possession of sixth place on FSU's all-time list.

With Waugh settling in, FSU's defense contributed as well. Catcher Rafael Lopez gunned down two would-be Tar Heel base-stealers in the fifth and seventh - he had three on the day and four in the series - to help keep it close.

Morin, however, quickly quelled any notion the 'Noles had of completing the comeback. Pitching in his third consecutive game, the right-hander struck out five over the final three innings, twice leaving Seminoles at second base.

"From the time that Mike hit the ball out of the ballpark, I don't believe we challenged them," Martin said. "We didn't get a guy to third base. They just shut us down."

As disappointed as Martin was with the outcome, he was very pleased with Waugh's performance.

"He [Waugh] will start Saturday at Virginia Tech," Martin said. "He will be our No. 2 starter. That's how much I was impressed with him."

It might have been a happier ending for Martin in the 'Noles had they been able to cash in on two chances to break the game open in the early going. FSU loaded the bases on three walks and chased UNC starter Chris Munnelly in the first, but managed just one run on James Ramsey's RBI infield single. Reliever Greg Holt rang up a pair of strikeouts to escape potential disaster.

An inning later, three of the first four Seminoles to the plate singled, including Lopez's run-scoring hit to left, before McGee grounded into an inning-ending double play. FSU also stranded runners at second and third in a scoreless third after UNC's eruption.

Ramsey (3-for-5) lead FSU's 13-hit attack, while Travis, Lopez and Gonzalez each contributed a pair of knocks.

Moved to the No. 2 spot in the batting order for the first time in his career, Lopez responded by going 7-for-11 (.640) at the plate, to go along with his defensive prowess behind it. The Tar Heels, who came into the series with 53 stolen bases, were shut out by the senior catcher and the 'Noles.

Despite the series loss, FSU maintained its three-game ACC Atlantic Division lead when Maryland knocked off Clemson on Sunday.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  2  2   0  1  1  3  4
Rafael Lopez            C         4  0  2   1  1  1  5  3
Mike McGee              CF        4  1  1   2  1  0  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        5  0  3   1  0  0  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  1  0   0  1  2  9  1
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  1  1   1  1  1  1  2
Stuart Tapley           LF        4  0  1   0  0  2  1  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        5  1  2   1  0  2  5  1
Parker Brunelle         DH        4  0  1   0  0  1  0  0
Gary Merians            P                            0  1
  Mack Waugh            P                            1  0
  Robby Scott           P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  1
                                 ========================
FSU                              38  6 13   6  5 10 27 13
Opp                              34  7 12   7  4  5 27 10

E - FSU-Stuart Tapley (2)
2B - Opp-2, FSU-Sherman Johnson (8), Stuart Tapley (3), Parker Brunelle (2)
HR - FSU-Mike McGee (7)
HBP - Opp-2, FSU-Stuart Tapley (5)
SH - Opp-1
SB - FSU-Sherman Johnson (5)
CS - Opp-3

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Gary Merians         L (5-2)    2.0  5  4  4  1  2
Mack Waugh                      4.1  6  3  2  1  2
Robby Scott                     0.0  0  0  0  1  0
Daniel Bennett                  2.2  1  0  0  1  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0 12  7  6  4  5
Opp                  W-Sv       9.0 13  6  6  5 10


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
North Carolina
0
0
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
12
0
Florida State
1
1
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
6
13
1
Attendance: 4,534

Florida State 3, Florida 1
04/12/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Gator Hunter!

Scantling blanks Florida for seven innings in series-clinching, 3-1 victory.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Hunter Scantling has spent three seasons waiting for the opportunities placed before him Tuesday night at Dick Howser Stadium.

This was no small stage for Florida State's big fella, who seized the moment and delivered the most memorable - and important - pitching performance of his career.

Facing fourth-ranked Florida with a chance to secure the season series and earn a spot in the weekend rotation, the 6-foot-8 right-hander filled up the strike zone and the scoreboard with zeroes. His seven innings of three-hit, shutout work delivered the eighth-ranked Seminoles a 3-1 victory before a crowd of 6,357.

"It's a pretty good indication that you can pitch when you pitch like that against the University of Florida," FSU coach Mike Martin said.

Scantling matched career-highs for innings pitched and strikeouts - seven - and yielded only an opposite field single by Tyler Thompson in the third, a bunt single by Zack Powers in the sixth and a single up the middle by Brian Johnson in the seventh.

The Jacksonville native had ample motivation.

"More than half my family is Gator fans and that made it that much more exciting for me to get out there and go seven [innings] like I did," Scantling said. "It just felt great, doing what I did - quick innings, getting our offense back in the dugout and trying to score runs."

The Seminoles (24-9) got on the board first against Florida starter Alex Panteliodis in the fourth. One-out singles by James Ramsey and Jayce Boyd (2-for-3) set the table. With two down and Stuart Tapley battling Panteliodis to a full count, Ramsey and Boyd were running.

Tapley drilled a hot, one-hop drive at Florida shortstop Nolan Fontana, who barely avoided taking the ball off his face, as it escaped his grasp. Ramsey never broke stride, rounding third and scoring just ahead of the throw home.

"I like to play the game aggressively," said Ramsey, who extended his career-high hitting streak to 11 games. "Call it the football mentality, call it what you want, but I'm going to try and score for my team. When I'm on second base, no matter what happens, if they have a little hiccup I'm going to score.

"I knew that Stu hit the ball hard enough that it was going to be a tough play. Fontana is a great shortstop, but the ball ate him up a little bit...As soon as Stu hit it, you can't doubt".

The 1-0 lead held up until the seventh, when the Seminoles added a pair of critical insurance runs. Johnson singled and went to third when Justin Gonzalez legged out an infield single and advanced to third on Powers' wide throw from third base. Martin sent pinch-hitter Parker Brunelle to the plate to face Greg Larson, who planned to intentionally walk the bases full.

Standing up behind the plate with his arm out, Florida catcher Mike Zunino was not prepared for Larson's offering. It sailed to the backstop, enabling Johnson to score easily from third.

The oddest of plays unfolded just as third base coach Mike Martin, Jr. had mentioned to Johnson.

"'Pay attention, they might throw it away,'" Johnson said, recounting the conversation with his coach. "As soon as I looked up, [Larson] was throwing the ball and the catcher was still looking into the field. I saw it go over his head and I just took off."

Larson retired Brunelle on a pop out before he was replaced by Tommy Toledo. Toledo's first pitch to Devon Travis was wide of the mark and scooted to the backstop as Gonzalez came home for a 3-0 edge.

Florida spoiled FSU's bid for a shutout in the ninth when Brian Johnson singled home Preston Tucker, whose leadoff double on an opposite field pop fly to shallow left, fell to the ground. Seminoles' reliever Daniel Bennett, who replaced Brian Busch after the pop-up double, knuckled down from there and secured his second save of the season when Daniel Pigott grounded into a game-ending fielder's choice.

"To take three out of four from them, especially when you only have one at home, we're very pleased with the way this series went with them this year," Ramsey said.

It might not have been possible had Scantling not served up his best performance as a Seminole.

"Tonight, I don't know what it was," Scantling said. "I felt more relaxed and was ready to go."

Scantling's 87-pitch performance - in his third start of the season against the Gators - included 61 strikes and a steady diet of sliders.

"I think I threw 41 sliders and 31 for strikes," he said afterward, still smiling. "Early in the counts, late in the counts, they were chasing down. I kept trying to repeat that and they kept swinging at it."

Over those three appearances, Scantling has filled up an impressive pitching line: 13.1 innings, 12 hits, four runs (three earned), 14 strikeouts and just three walks.

Scantling admitted that pitching coach Jamey Shouppe provided a little "extra incentive" by dangling the carrot - a start on Sunday at Virginia Tech - prior to the game.

"About four weeks ago, when he pitched against a very good Florida baseball team...he had success and all of a sudden the confidence built," Martin said. "Then he got to pitch again, and he had success again. Well, it carried over tonight and he will pitch in our rotation as of now."

The Seminoles improved to 7-2 against the Gators over the past two seasons, in what will undoubtedly weigh heavily in their favor come the postseason. The win also helped ease the sting of dropping two games to North Carolina over the weekend.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  0  0   0  0  0  2  2
Rafael Lopez            C         4  0  0   0  0  1  8  2
Mike McGee              CF        2  0  0   0  1  1  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  1  1   0  0  0  1  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  0  2   0  0  1 12  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        2  1  1   0  1  1  0  1
Stuart Tapley           LF        2  0  1   1  0  1  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  1  1   0  0  1  2  2
Taiwan Easterling       DH        2  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
  Parker Brunelle       PH        1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Hunter Scantling        P                            0  2
  Brian Busch           P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              28  3  6   1  2  7 27  9
Opp                              32  1  6   1  2  8 24  8

E - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (8)
2B - Opp-1
HBP - FSU-Mike McGee (2)
SH - Opp-1, FSU-Stuart Tapley (2)
SB - FSU-James Ramsey (5)
CS - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Hunter Scantling     W (2-0)    7.0  3  0  0  1  7
Brian Busch                     1.0  1  1  1  1  1
Daniel Bennett       Sv(2)      1.0  2  0  0  0  0
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  6  1  1  2  8
Opp                  L          8.0  6  3  2  2  7


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
6
1
Florida State
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
x
3
6
1
Attendance: 6,357

Virginia Tech 2, Florida State 1
04/15/2011, Blacksburg, Va.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Complete Frustration.

Gilmartin delivers complete game but 'Noles fall to Hokies, 2-1.

BLACKSBURG, VA - Florida State junior Sean Gilmartin won the pitching battle in Friday's wind-blown series opener with Virginia Tech's Joe Mantiply.

The Hokies, however, managed to secure the more important victory.

Jake Atwell's two-out, fly ball RBI triple to left in the third inning and a Gilmartin wild pitch provided the Hokies with all the runs they would need to secure a 2-1 victory at English Field.

The eighth-ranked Seminoles out-hit the Hokies 6-4, but also managed to strand 11 baserunners on a day with run-production was at a premium. In the end, Gilmartin (6-1) suffered his first defeat of the season, despite his first complete game since 2009. Gilmartin struck out seven, walked one and faced just 27 batters.

On an otherwise outstanding defensive day, left fielder Stuart Tapley's misjudged approach on Atwell's fly ball loomed large. The Seminoles (24-10, 9-7 ACC) still managed to cut two runners down at home plate, including Tapley's assist to nail Tim Smalling for the final out in the eighth.

Virginia Tech (19-17, 4-12) was equally impressive on defense, turning a pair of inning-ending double plays. The timely defense and FSU's inability to deliver with runners in scoring position enabled the Hokies to score their first one-run win of the season in eight tries. The Seminoles, meanwhile, dipped to 3-6 in one-run games.

FSU left the bases loaded in the fifth and seventh innings and stranded two more in the sixth after finally chasing Mantiply (4-5) from the game. The Seminoles put the leadoff batter in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings but managed their lone run when Rafael Lopez turned a 12-pitch at-bat into an RBI walk with the bases loaded in the fifth.

In addition to his pivotal third inning hit, Atwell secured his first save of the season, allowing two hits over the final 2.2 innings.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        5  0  1   0  0  0  0  3
Rafael Lopez            C         3  0  1   1  1  1  9  1
Mike McGee              CF        4  0  1   0  1  0  5  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  0  1   0  0  2  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  0  0   0  0  0  8  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        3  0  1   0  1  1  0  2
Stuart Tapley           LF        3  0  0   0  1  1  2  1
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  1  0   0  1  1  0  3
Taiwan Easterling       DH        1  0  1   0  0  0  0  0
  Seth Miller           PH        0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0
  Jack Posey            PH        1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
Sean Gilmartin          P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              31  1  6   1  6  7 24 10
Opp                              26  2  4   1  1  7 27 11

2B - FSU-Mike McGee (7)
3B - Opp-2
HBP - FSU-Rafael Lopez (4), Taiwan Easterling (3)
SB - Opp-1, FSU-Sherman Johnson (6)
CS - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Sean Gilmartin       L (6-1)    8.0  4  2  2  1  7
                               ===================
FSU                             8.0  4  2  2  1  7
Opp                  W-Sv       9.0  6  1  1  6  7


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
6
0
Virginia Tech
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
x
2
4
0
Attendance: 1,473

Florida State 15, Virginia Tech 11
04/16/2011, Blacksburg, Va.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Blow-By Victory!

'Noles rally late to defeat Hokies in blustery battle, 15-11.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

BLACKSBURG, VA - In a dramatic turn of events in a 24-hour stretch, eighth-ranked Florida State withstood an 18-hit assault by scoring seven runs over the final three innings for a critical 15-11 win at Virginia Tech.

One night after Sean Gilmartin's complete game four-hitter went for naught in a 2-1 setback, the Seminoles (25-10, 10-7 ACC) mounted enough offense to erase an 11-7 deficit.

"It was undoubtedly a good win for us," said FSU coach Mike Martin. "When you have a couple of bad innings, you stay tough and you're able to get it done at the end ... it's a clear indication of the kind of young men that you have. I'm very proud to get a win like this on the road."

The wind was howling at English Field, gusting to 30 mph, which made every fly ball an adventure and turned everyone into a long ball threat. The Hokies (19-18, 4-13) padded their ACC-leading home run total (46) with three, but were ultimately finished off by Justin Gonzalez's two-run blast in the ninth.

Gonzalez's fourth homer of the season - FSU's second of the night -provided reliever Daniel Bennett with a comforting, four-run cushion. Bennett capped 2.2 innings of one-hit, shutout work by striking out ACC home run leader Andrews Rash with the bases loaded for the final out for his third save.

"Gonzo's hit was huge," said Bennett. "If you go in up two runs in the bottom of the ninth, I feel confident, but having that extra two runs - the four-run cushion - was huge for our team, as well as our whole morale."

The Seminoles' morale never seemed to waver, even after the Hokies erased a 7-2 deficit with a seven-run fourth inning. Virginia Tech chased first-time starter Mack Waugh with a walk and three hits to get it going, before Robert Benincasa was roughed up by Ronnie Shaban's grand slam and Rash's 12th homer of the season - a solo shot.

Virginia Tech pushed its lead to 11-7 with two more in the fifth off Jack Posey, as it threatened to extend FSU's streak of consecutive Saturday losses to five.

"You had some talking about a certain night being a night that we hadn't been successful," Martin said. "I'm just very proud of how the guys fought and persevered."

Martin's club, however, had other ideas.

The comeback began in the sixth when Mike McGee reached on a wind-blown, fly ball double and James Ramsey singled him home, shaving the deficit to 11-8.

There would be more to come against the Hokies, whose bats were silenced down the stretch by David Trexler (2-0), Brian Busch and Bennett. The trio combined for four innings of three-hit, shutout baseball, cracking the door for the Seminoles' comeback.

Meanwhile, Virginia Tech's bullpen struggled.

FSU went through three Hokie relievers in a four-run seventh as they sent nine batters to the plate. It began with a leadoff double by Gonzalez, which was followed by an Devon Travis RBI single and a Parker Brunelle walk. McGee followed with an RBI single to center, with Brunelle scoring on an errant throw by Tony Balisteri. McGee was thrown out attempting to steal third for the second out before Ramsey walk and consecutive singles by Jayce Boyd and Sherman Johnson put the Seminoles in front 12-11.

Brunelle added an RBI single in the eighth before Gonzalez's towering, two-out homer to left - his fourth of the season - closed out the scoring.

"It was a huge win for our ballclub," Gonzalez said. "These conditions weren't great, but we had to stay mentally tough. This is do-or-die right now. We're in conference play and we can't be losing any more games they way that we lost yesterday."

Ramsey, Boyd and Gonzalez had three hits each as the Seminoles matched their season-high with 16 hits. Travis drove in a team-high four runs, while Ramsey added three on a night when he pushed his hitting streak to 13 games.@

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        6  1  2   4  0  1  3  1
Rafael Lopez            C         4  0  1   0  0  2  4  1
  Parker Brunelle       C         1  1  1   1  1  0  5  1
Mike McGee              CF        5  2  2   1  1  2  4  0
James Ramsey            RF        5  3  3   3  1  1  2  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        5  1  3   1  1  0  7  1
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  1  1   1  2  2  1  2
Stuart Tapley           LF        5  2  0   0  0  0  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  3  3   2  1  1  1  2
Seth Miller             DH        1  1  0   1  4  1  0  0
Mack Waugh              P                            0  0
  Robert Benincasa      P                            0  0
  Jack Posey            P                            0  0
  David Trexler         P                            0  0
  Brian Busch           P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  1
                                 ========================
FSU                              40 15 16  14 11 10 27  9
Opp                              44 11 18  10  6  8 27 12

E - Opp-4, FSU-Sherman Johnson (7), Justin Gonzalez (6)
2B - Opp-4, FSU-Devon Travis (16), Rafael Lopez (12), Mike McGee (8), James Ramsey (11), Justin Gonzalez (8)
HR - Opp-3, FSU-James Ramsey (6), Justin Gonzalez (4)
HBP - FSU-Justin Gonzalez (11), Seth Miller (3)
SH - FSU-Stuart Tapley (3)
SB - FSU-Seth Miller (7)
CS - FSU-Mike McGee (1)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Mack Waugh                      3.0  9  6  6  2  2
Robert Benincasa                0.1  3  3  3  0  0
Jack Posey                      1.2  3  2  2  0  2
David Trexler        W (2-0)    1.0  1  0  0  0  1
Brian Busch                     0.1  1  0  0  1  1
Daniel Bennett       Sv(3)      2.2  1  0  0  3  2
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0 18 11 11  6  8
Opp                  L          9.0 16 15 12 11 10


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
0
2
5
0
0
1
4
1
2
15
16
2
Virginia Tech
2
0
0
7
2
0
0
0
0
11
18
4
Attendance: 793

Florida State 18, Virginia Tech 12
04/17/2011, Blacksburg, Va.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Comeback Kids.

'Noles rally from seven back to secure series at Virginia Tech.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

BLACKSBURG, VA - On the heels of Saturday's wild night of offense, the madness continued in the Sunday afternoon series finale between No. 8 Florida State and Virginia Tech.

Rallying from seven-run deficit after four innings, the Seminoles went on a scoring binge and escaped wind-blown English Field with an 18-12 victory and a pivotal ACC road series triumph.

The Seminoles (26-10, 11-7 ACC) hacked into a 10-3 deficit with three runs in the fifth inning, then finished off the Hokies with back-to-back six-spots in the seventh and eighth.

"When we were down seven, the young men had some really great at-bats and got themselves in position to win," said FSU coach Mike Martin, whose team rallied from an 11-7 deficit Saturday with a big finish as well.

Jayce Boyd, who was a perfect 5-for-5 with three RBI, followed Mike McGee's RBI single with a two-run homer in the fifth that lit the Seminoles' fuse. FSU didn't so much overwhelm the Hokies in the late stages as it wore them down, drawing 10 walks and getting deep into their under-staffed and over-worked bullpen.

That was the patient approach Boyd said he maintained throughout his first five-hit game for the Seminoles.

"Just, 'Get it to the next guy,' is really all you're thinking about, to get in a situation to put yourself back in the game," said Boyd, who scored four runs and came within a double of hitting for the cycle. "Tyler Everett puts us back in that game. Our pitching in the end came through for us."

Everett (1-1), the fifth of six Seminole pitchers, earned the victory with a season-high 3.1 innings of three-hit, one-run relief. He came in and shut down Virginia Tech during its five-run, fourth-inning outburst it built the 10-3 lead. By the time he flipped the ball to Brian Busch with two outs in the seventh, the Seminoles were in front 12-11.

Andrew Rash's wind-blown, pop fly to left - which carried over the wall - was the lone blemish on Everett's most productive outing of the season.

"You're trying to keep the ball low in the zone so they can't get much elevation up into the wind," said Everett, well aware that the 'Noles had to find a way to quiet the Hokies. "It happened on one pitch...

"I finally got settled in on the mound, figured out the umpire's zone and I felt like I was getting a little better at the end as the game progressed."

Martin could not have agreed more.

"We got the shutdown effort from Tyler Everett and Boomer [Brian Busch] and it was certainly a big lift to shut them down while we were able to come back, tie it up and go ahead," Martin said. "He [Everett] is a big part of this club, no matter if it's just his leadership in the clubhouse and the dugout. Going out there today and effectively using that sinker to his advantage - and our advantage - was big."

So was Busch, who collected his first save with 2.1 innings of one-hit work in his second appearance of the series.

Of course, the solid finishing efforts would have gone for naught had the Seminoles not been productive at the plate. FSU actually got off to a 2-0 lead on Sherman Johnson's first home run of the season - a blast over the 400-foot sign in center field - which was also the first of five balls to leave the wind-swept park.

It was short-lived as the Hokies (19-19, 4-14) answered with five in the home third, chasing FSU starter Hunter Scantling and beginning a merry-go-round of relievers. Seth Miller had an RBI single for the 'Noles in the fourth to cut it to 5-3 before Virginia Tech pushed five more runs across in the home half for a 10-3 lead.

McGee and Boyd set the comeback in motion in the fifth before the Seminoles began their all-out assault on the Hokies' bullpen in the seventh. FSU sent 10 batters to the plate, and with the help of four walks, scored six runs to take a 12-11 lead. Justin Gonzalez and Parker Brunelle drew bases loaded walks before Easterling picked up the first of his career-high five RBI with a fielder's choice. Devon Travis' two-run double to center tied the game at 11 and McGee's RBI sacrifice fly to left put FSU in front to stay.

Boyd tripled and scored on Stuart Tapley's RBI single to start the eighth and Easterling's towering grand slam to left - his first career homer - extended the lead to 17-11.

"It felt pretty good," Easterling said of the slam and the comeback win. "We were down the whole game, but everybody pitched in and we all worked together and got the win."

With both Clemson and NC State sweeping their series over the weekend, FSU needed the series win to maintain their lead in the ACC's Atlantic Division.

"It's huge for us, especially being down as much as we were in the middle of the game," said Boyd, who was 8-for-10 at the plate over the final two games. "To end up winning 18-12, that's the kind of game you're supposed to win when you've got the guys that will fight like we have. Those games are fun."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        7  3  2   2  0  1  1  4
Sherman Johnson         3B        5  2  2   2  2  0  0  2
Mike McGee              CF        4  1  1   2  1  1  3  0
James Ramsey            RF        5  1  1   0  1  2  1  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        5  4  5   2  0  0 16  1
Stuart Tapley           LF        5  2  1   1  1  1  2  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  2  0   1  1  2  0  3
Parker Brunelle         C         4  1  1   1  2  0  3  1
Seth Miller             DH        2  0  1   1  1  0  0  0
  Taiwan Easterling     PH-DH     2  2  1   5  0  0  0  0
  Robby Stahl           PH        0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0
Hunter Scantling        P                            0  1
  Adam Simmons          P                            0  0
  Robby Scott           P                            0  0
  Jack Posey            P                            0  0
  Tyler Everett         P                            0  1
  Brian Busch           P                            1  2
                                 ========================
FSU                              43 18 15  17 10  7 27 15
Opp                              37 12 11  11  7  2 27  9

E - Opp-3, FSU-Jack Posey (1), Devon Travis (9), Sherman Johnson (8), Mike McGee (1)
2B - Opp-4, FSU-Devon Travis 2 (18), Sherman Johnson (9)
3B - Opp-1, FSU-Jayce Boyd (2)
HR - Opp-2, FSU-Sherman Johnson (1), Jayce Boyd (3), Taiwan Easterling (1)
HBP - Opp-2, FSU-Justin Gonzalez (12)
SF - Opp-2, FSU-Mike McGee (3), Jayce Boyd (6)
SB - Opp-1, FSU-Sherman Johnson (7)
CS - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Hunter Scantling                2.2  5  5  5  2  0
Adam Simmons                    0.1  0  1  1  2  0
Robby Scott                     0.0  1  2  2  1  0
Jack Posey                      0.1  1  2  0  1  0
Tyler Everett        W (1-1)    3.1  3  1  1  1  1
Brian Busch                     2.1  1  1  0  0  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0 11 12  9  7  2
Opp                  L          9.0 15 18 15 10  7


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
0
0
2
1
3
0
6
6
0
18
15
4
Virginia Tech
0
0
5
5
0
1
0
0
1
12
11
3
Attendance: 1,361

Florida State 13, Florida Gulf Coast 2
04/19/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Workman-like Win.

Seminoles dispatch FGCU 13-2; ALS Awareness Game up next.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - With a workmanlike effort that pleased its coach, 10th-ranked Florida State came out quickly and finished fast in Tuesday night's 13-2 win over Florida Gulf Coast.

Junior pitcher Gary Merians set the tone with four solid innings for the win in a controlled start and the Seminoles wasted no time providing some run support. FSU bolted to a 4-1 lead after two innings and was never threatened.

"I thought our pitching was pretty good tonight and when you don't make an error, you certainly feel good," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "We were able to get a lot of guys in the ball game - we haven't had a game like this in a long time."

Merians (6-2) limited the Eagles to one run on four hits in his starting stint. Aside from yielding a solo homer to Zach Maxfield to lead off the second, Merians was in command, striking out four and issuing just one walk.

The Seminoles (27-10, 11-7 ACC) used the first of two mid-week games with FGCU to give its bullpen some work. David Trexler, the second of five FSU pitchers to see action, was equally impressive. The lanky right-hander struck out four in two innings of hitless relief, further strengthening his bid to get a crack at a spot in the weekend rotation.

Collectively, the 'Noles limited the Eagles to seven hits, piled up 12 strikeouts and issued just three walks in front of an error-free defensive effort.

Jayce Boyd continued his torrid hitting streak with a two-run double in the first to get the Seminoles on the board. They added two more in the second behind Parker Brunelle's RBI double and Sherman Johnson's run-scoring single.

A five-run fourth, aided by two walks and two hit batters, helped the Seminoles put the Eagles (19-18) away. Taiwan Easterling's two-run double provided the big blow.

Starters Devon Travis, Boyd and Easterling each contributed a pair of hits to FSU's 13-hit attack against six FGCU pitchers. Late-game sub Sean O'Brien joined them with a 2-for-2 performance.

James Ramsey's fifth-inning RBI single extended his ACC-leading hitting streak to 15 games. Johnson has also put together an eight-game streak at the plate. Justin Gonzalez led the Seminoles with three RBI, including a two-run single in FSU's three-run fifth.

The two teams will square off again Wednesday at 6 p.m. on ALS Awareness Night at Dick Howser Stadium.

"This game tomorrow night is very meaningful," Martin said. "Tyler Everett, of course, will start it, but will only go an inning or two."

Everett's father, long-time Leon County coach and athletic administrator Jimmy Everett, has been battling Lou Gehrig's disease the past two years. He will join his son on the field for a brief recognition prior to the start of the game.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        3  2  2   0  0  0  1  1
  Sean O'Brien          PH-2B     2  0  2   0  0  0  0  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        2  1  1   1  1  0  0  2
  Seth Miller           PH-CF     2  0  0   0  0  1  2  0
Mike McGee              CF-P      2  3  1   1  2  0  2  0
  Robert Benincasa      P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Sean Gilmartin        PH        1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
  Tye Buckley           P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
James Ramsey            RF        3  2  1   2  0  1  1  0
  Robby Stahl           RF-LF     2  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  0  2   2  0  0  4  0
  Jack Posey            1B        0  0  0   0  1  0  2  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  1  1   3  1  0  1  0
Taiwan Easterling       DH        4  1  2   2  0  1  0  0
  Wil Breton            RF        1  0  0   0  0  0  2  0
Stuart Tapley           LF-3B     3  1  0   0  2  1  2  0
Parker Brunelle         C         4  2  1   1  1  0 10  2
Gary Merians            P                            0  0
  David Trexler         P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              37 13 13  12  8  5 27  5
Opp                              33  2  7   2  3 12 24  5

E - Opp-1
2B - FSU-Sherman Johnson (10), Mike McGee (9), Jayce Boyd (8), Taiwan Easterling (4), Parker Brunelle (3)
HR - Opp-1
HBP - FSU-Devon Travis (5), Mike McGee (3), James Ramsey (4)
SH - FSU-Sherman Johnson (3)
SB - FSU-Devon Travis (2), Mike McGee (3)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Gary Merians         W (6-2)    4.0  4  1  1  1  4
David Trexler                   2.0  0  0  0  1  4
Mike McGee                      1.0  3  1  1  1  0
Robert Benincasa                1.0  0  0  0  0  2
Tye Buckley                     1.0  0  0  0  0  2
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  7  2  2  3 12
Opp                  L          8.0 13 13 11  8  5


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida Gulf Coast
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
7
1
Florida State
2
2
0
5
3
1
0
0
x
13
13
0
Attendance: 4,505

Florida State 6, Florida Gulf Coast 4
04/20/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Emotional Victory.

'Noles pull out victory for Everett's on ALS Awareness Night, 6-4.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - It took Tyler Everett an inning to get a handle on his emotions Wednesday night, but the Florida State senior pitcher wasn't alone on an emotionally memorable night at Dick Howser Stadium.

Florida State's second ALS Awareness Night was bit more emotional, especially for Everett, who took the ball from his wheelchair-bound father Jimmy Everett, who is suffering from what is commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Everett gave up a run on three hits in the first, but settled down with the help of his teammates, as the 10th-ranked Seminoles escaped with a 6-4 victory over Florida Gulf Coast.

"That's a tough game to play," said FSU coach Mike Martin, who was Jimmy Everett's high school basketball coach. "There's so much meaning...It makes you look back on your life.

"Tyler did a great job...The team did a great job of getting it done. I'm very proud that we were able to hang on."

Devon Travis erased the 1-0 deficit on the first pitch he saw from Eagles' starter Jason Forjet, sailing it over the scoreboard in left field for his third homer of the season. The Seminoles (28-10) tacked on two runs in the second on Travis' RBI single and Sherman Johnson's run-scoring sacrifice. The 3-1 lead stood through Everett's four-inning stint as the right-hander limited the Eagles to just two more hits.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a little nerves," Tyler Everett said. "It was probably a good 10 minutes or 15 minutes before I actually settled down."

He finished with a pair of strikeouts without a walk, but was saddled with a no-decision when Florida Gulf Coast (19-19) rallied and tied the game in the sixth.

"I didn't even know that I'd have been able to get the win through four innings," said Everett, unaware that he was eligible for the win in the controlled said. "It didn't really cross my mind."

The 3-3 deadlock didn't last long. Jayce Boyd followed Mike McGee's RBI single with a two-run triple to center field in the home half of the sixth for a 6-3 cushion that would be enough for the victory on a tough night.

"It makes you kind of step back and look at the bigger picture," said Boyd, who, like the rest of the Seminoles, marveled at their teammates' resilience as his father battles the incurable disease.

"Tyler's a tough kid. I don't know if I'd be able to keep my head up and even play the game of baseball if my dad was like that," Travis said. "It was pretty awesome that Jimmy was able to come out here and support Tyler."

The Seminoles offered their support on the field as well, matching a season-high with four double plays, including a pair of inning-enders in the third and fourth.

"I thought our defense, for the most part had a pretty good day," said Travis, who had a hand in all four double plays and went backhand up the middle to rob FGCU of a hit in the second. "We've been struggling as of late. It's about time we stepped it up."

Boyd (3-for-4) and McGee (3-for-5) paved the way for the Seminoles' 14-hit attack. James Ramsey, who extended his ACC-leading hitting streak to 16 games, had a pair of hits along with Travis and Parker Brunelle.

Despite the offensive outburst, the Seminoles stranded 14 base runners - a recurring theme in recent weeks.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        5  1  2   2  0  1  5  5
Sherman Johnson         3B        3  1  1   1  1  1  1  4
Mike McGee              CF        5  1  3   1  0  0  4  0
James Ramsey            RF        5  0  2   0  0  0  1  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  0  3   2  0  0  6  1
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  0  0   0  1  1  3  1
Taiwan Easterling       DH        4  0  1   0  1  1  0  0
Seth Miller             LF        4  1  0   0  1  0  2  0
Parker Brunelle         C         3  2  2   0  1  0  4  0
Tyler Everett           P                            0  1
  Mack Waugh            P                            1  0
  Brian Busch           P                            0  0
  Robert Benincasa      P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  1
                                 ========================
FSU                              37  6 14   6  5  4 27 13
Opp                              32  4  9   3  2  4 24 12

E - FSU-Justin Gonzalez (7)
2B - Opp-2, FSU-James Ramsey (12), Parker Brunelle (4)
3B - FSU-Jayce Boyd (3)
HR - Opp-2, FSU-Devon Travis (4)
HBP - FSU-Jayce Boyd (2)
SF - Opp-1, FSU-Sherman Johnson (1)
SB - FSU-Sherman Johnson (8), Mike McGee (4)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Tyler Everett                   4.0  5  1  1  0  2
Mack Waugh                      1.0  1  2  1  2  1
Brian Busch          W (2-1)    2.0  0  0  0  0  1
Robert Benincasa                1.0  2  1  1  0  0
Daniel Bennett       Sv(4)      1.0  1  0  0  0  0
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  9  4  3  2  4
Opp                  L          8.0 14  6  6  5  4


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida Gulf Coast
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
4
9
0
Florida State
1
2
0
0
0
3
0
0
x
6
14
1
Attendance: 4,008

Florida State 2, Duke 1
04/22/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Giving 'Em The Devil!

Gilmartin mows down 13 Duke batters en route to 2-1 victory.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Economy and performance.

Everyone wants that in a new car, but Florida State baseball coach Mike Martin is glad to have it in junior left-hander Sean Gilmartin.

Gilmartin continued his season-long brilliance Friday night at Dick Howser Stadium at the expense of visiting Duke. With complete command of his slider and change-up, the California native left the Blue Devils flailing in the twilight, registering a career-high 13 strikeouts over eight innings in a 2-1 victory.

"That was a pro game. Your starter goes eight; has a tremendous outing," Martin said. "Your reliever comes in 1-2-3; just a well-played baseball game."

One week after coming up on the wrong end of a 2-1 decision at Virginia Tech, despite a complete game, four-hitter, Gilmartin (7-1, 1.38) never gave the Blue Devils a chance. He registered at least one strikeout against all nine Duke starters, as 70 of his 97 pitches were strikes.

It was Gilmartin's 28th career victory, which is tied for fifth among active Division I pitchers and ranks 11th in Florida State history. And while he would have liked to have taken the mound in the ninth to finish the job, he was more than happy with the performance.

"That's weird, 97 pitches and 13 strikeouts," Gilmartin said. "I felt a lot stronger as the game got on."

Gilmartin struck out the side in the seventh and eighth innings, sailing past his previous career-high of 11 strikeouts, which he posted twice earlier this season.

Florida State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second when Justin Gonzalez launched a line drive which sailed over the wall in left for his fifth homer of the season. They tacked on the would-be winning run in the fourth when Stuart Tapley (2-for-4) singled with two outs and scored on Sherman Johnson's RBI single to right.

"I've never seen [Gilmartin] like that," said Johnson. "It seems every time he goes out there he's going to go eight innings of one-hit, two-hit, three-hit baseball."

Johnson (3-for-4) led FSU's seven-hit attack and, in the process, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. James Ramsey also extended his ACC-leading hitting streak to 16 games with a bunt single in the first for the 'Noles.

Johnson and Ramsey have reached base safely in 38 of 39 games this season.

Duke's lone run came in the fifth when Aaron Cohn doubled to right-center with two outs, scoring Angelo LaBruna, who opened the inning with a single.

It seemed to provide the easy-going Gilmartin with added motivation. He retired the next seven batters in order and struck out the side in the seventh and eighth - his final two innings of work.

"At that point I was really starting to get a boost in the game," said Gilmartin.

Though he would have liked to the opportunity to finish what he started, Gilmartin turned the ball over to closer Daniel Bennett in the ninth. Facing three right-handers, the right-handed, sidearm slinger sat the Blue Devils down in order for his fifth save of the season and fourth in consecutive appearances.

"I would have liked to go back in there for the ninth, but I have a lot of confidence in my bullpen," Gilmartin said.

Leaving his staff ace in also crossed Martin's mind, if only momentarily.

"If friendship or respect enters into your decision, you're not doing your job," Martin said. "It did enter my mind, because I wanted Gilly to pitch. But we've got a guy in the bullpen that's fresh and ready to go."

Senior catcher Parker Brunelle, who made his fourth consecutive start while Rafael Lopez recovers from a tender back, marveled at Gilmartin's performance.

"He was throwing [the change-up] low and away to right-handers," Brunelle said. "To lefties, his slider was working phenomenal tonight and some of those guys couldn't handle that for their lives...

"It was a fun night to be back there...It was fun to be a part of. Gilly and I are good friends and I wanted that for him. Anything I can do, I want to help out. I'm happy for him."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        3  0  0   0  2  0  0  3
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  0  3   1  0  0  0  1
Mike McGee              CF        4  0  0   0  0  2  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        3  0  1   0  0  0  3  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        3  0  0   0  1  1 11  0
Parker Brunelle         C         4  0  0   0  0  0  9  5
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  1  1   1  0  2  2  1
Taiwan Easterling       DH        3  0  0   0  0  2  0  0
  Rafael Lopez          PH        0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0
Stuart Tapley           LF        4  1  2   0  0  2  0  0
Sean Gilmartin          P                            0  1
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              32  2  7   2  4  9 27 11
Opp                              31  1  3   1  0 14 24  8

E - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (10)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Stuart Tapley (4)
HR - FSU-Justin Gonzalez (5)
HBP - Opp-1, FSU-James Ramsey (5)
SB - Opp-1, FSU-Rafael Lopez (7)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Sean Gilmartin       W (7-1)    8.0  3  1  1  0 13
Daniel Bennett       Sv(5)      1.0  0  0  0  0  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  3  1  1  0 14
Opp                  L          8.0  7  2  2  4  9


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Duke
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
3
1
Florida State
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
x
2
7
1
Attendance: 4,647

Florida State 10, Duke 3
04/23/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Mastery Continues.

FSU wins its 20th consecutive at home against Duke, 10-3.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Solid pitching and timely hitting enabled Mike Martin's 10th-ranked Florida State baseball team to continue its mastery of Duke at home Saturday night.

The Seminoles (30-10, 13-7 ACC) provided starter Hunter Scantling with a pair of runs in the first, then broke the game open with a four-run fifth and rolled to a 10-3 win.

It was the Florida State's sixth consecutive victory - tying its longest winning streak of the season - and 20th consecutive at home against the Blue Devils.

"I tip my hat to the guys inside (the clubhouse) because they beat a very good pitcher in Marcus Stroman," Martin said. "That young man is as impressive as any young man we've competed against this season...That's a big-time pro prospect."

Stroman, who pitches in the mid-90s with a slider and a curve, got off to a rocky start. Devon Travis and Sherman Johnson greeted him with first-inning doubles, setting up Mike McGee's two-run single. The Seminoles never surrendered the lead.

"When I got up to the plate I was going to bunt him [Travis] over," said Johnson. "The count got to 3-1 and I was just looking for a pitch to pull and got it on the barrel."

It was the first of two doubles on the night for Johnson, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Five of FSU's nine hits were doubles.

Stroman settled down, facing one batter more than the minimum over the next three frames, but Duke was unable to cut into the 2-0 deficit against FSU starter Hunter Scantling (3-0). Scantling retired the first nine Blue Devils and did not allow a hit until the fourth. Jeff Kremer stroked a leadoff double and Jordan Betts' RBI single halved the FSU lead before the big right-hander coaxed an inning-ending double play grounder.

"I was hoping last week would go a little better," said Scantling, who was chased early at Virginia Tech. "Just to come back and get some quality innings and help the team get the win was big."

He called the coaching staff's decision to keep him in the rotation a "big boost."

"It shows the coaches are starting to trust in me and I just want to be more consistent to show that they can trust on me later in the season," Scantling said.

Scantling scattered three hits, struck out five, walked one and yielded two runs in six innings, only one of which was earned.

"He [Scantling] threw the ball extremely well today and he kept the ball down," said Johnson. "When he keeps the ball down he's really tough to hit and it showed tonight. He let the defense work."

FSU put the game away with a four-run fifth as Stroman (1-3) tired, issuing a pair of walks and uncorking three wild pitches. James Ramsey followed a McGee double with a two-run single to left, which bounced over the head of drawn infield. That extended his ACC-leading hitting streak to 18 games and gave the Seminoles a 6-1 lead.

"We had some good at-bats," said Martin. "The inning that we got to Stroman, there were a couple of situations where we took advantage of mistakes."

The Seminoles tacked on two runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Seth Miller's RBI single and Johnson's run-scoring double pushed FSU's lead to 8-2. Jayce Boyd belted his fourth homer of the season to lead off the seventh.

"I've hit a couple balls like that, mostly in high school," Boyd said of his wind-aided blast. "When it came off the bat, 'That's a feeling I felt before.' It ended up getting out; it carried pretty well."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  2  1   0  1  1  2  4
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  2  2   1  1  0  0  1
Mike McGee              CF        2  1  2   2  2  0  2  0
  Wil Breton            PH-RF     0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  1  1   2  0  2  2  0
  Robby Stahl           RF-LF     1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        3  1  1   1  1  1 11  0
  Sean Gilmartin        PH        1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Jack Posey            1B        0  0  0   0  0  0  3  0
Parker Brunelle         C         3  1  0   0  2  3  5  2
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  1  0   0  1  1  1  6
Stuart Tapley           LF        3  0  0   0  0  1  1  0
  Sean O'Brien          PH        1  0  1   0  0  0  0  0
  Taiwan Easterling     LF-CF     0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Seth Miller             DH        4  1  1   1  0  3  0  0
Hunter Scantling        P                            0  2
  Robert Benincasa      P                            0  0
  Tye Buckley           P                            0  0
  Tyler Everett         P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              34 10  9   7  8 12 27 15
Opp                              33  3  7   2  1  7 24  8

E - Opp-1, FSU-Mike McGee (2), Parker Brunelle (2)
2B - Opp-2, FSU-Devon Travis (19), Sherman Johnson 2 (12), Mike McGee (10), Sean O'Brien (2)
HR - FSU-Jayce Boyd (4)
HBP - Opp-4
SB - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (3), Mike McGee (5), James Ramsey (6), Jayce Boyd (6), Seth Miller (8)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Hunter Scantling     W (3-0)    6.0  3  2  1  1  5
Robert Benincasa                1.0  2  0  0  0  0
Tye Buckley                     1.0  1  0  0  0  1
Tyler Everett                   1.0  1  1  1  0  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  7  3  2  1  7
Opp                  L          8.0  9 10  9  8 12


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Duke
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
3
7
1
Florida State
2
0
0
0
4
2
2
0
x
10
9
2
Attendance: 5,058

Florida State 13, Duke 9
04/24/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Broom-Broom!

Seminoles roar back to complete series sweep of Duke, 13-9.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Answering early and rallying late, 10th-ranked Florida State finished off a three-game sweep of Duke Sunday at Dick Howser Stadium with a 13-9 victory.

The Seminoles (31-10, 14-7 ACC) chipped away at an 8-4 deficit, then raced past the Blue Devils with a six-run seventh inning. It was FSU's seventh consecutive win - its longest string of victories this season - and 21st in a row at home against Duke, in a streak that dates to 1994.

Jayce Boyd (3-for-4) drove in a game-high four runs and Sherman Johnson added three RBI to the cause with a bases-clearing double in seventh, which extended his hitting streak to 12 games. James Ramsey (3-for-4), Mike McGee (2-for-4) and Parker Brunelle (2-for-4) made significant contributions to the Seminoles' 13-hit attack.

Ramsey extended his ACC-leading hitting streak to 19 games, but was far more excited about the outcome.

"That seven [game win streak] we've got going is the only one I'm concerned about," Ramsey said. "I just try to go out there every day and help this team win in any capacity I can.

"It's easy to hit when you're hitting between Mike and Jayce."

Offense aside, it was the pitching of reliever Mack Waugh who gave the Seminoles a chance after Duke opened up an 8-4 lead and chased first-time weekend starter David Trexler in the second inning. The junior right-hander limited the Blue Devils to three hits in 5.1 shutout innings, struck out five and issued one walk.

"I was just trying to get us back in the dugout and keep us in the ballgame," said Waugh (2-1), who bounced back after a pair of rough outings against Virginia Tech and Florida Gulf Coast. "It was very big for me, especially with my confidence. I was just trying to get back out there and pitch the way I did all year. I feel like I did that today."

Brian Busch and Daniel Bennett closed things out for the 'Noles, limiting the Blue Devils (20-23, 4-17) to a pair of hits and an unearned run over the final two innings.

"No doubt that [Waugh] and Boomer [Busch] were the secrets, when you can hold a team down and give your team a chance to get back in it," said FSU coach Mike Martin. "Waugh goes in and goes 5 1/3 (innings) and gives them nothing. That's pretty doggone good. Boomer did a good job of holding them there and, of course, Daniel comes in and gets his sixth save."

Bennett coaxed a grounder to short for the final out and his team-leading sixth save.

Duke starter Robert Huber settled down after the first, when the Seminoles erased a 2-0 deficit with four runs, courtesy of consecutive run-scoring doubles from Ramsey, Boyd and Brunelle. The 'Noles managed just one hit over the next three innings, but began their comeback with a single run in the fifth on Boyd's sacrifice fly, which would also be Huber's final inning.

For the second consecutive game the Seminoles exploited Duke's bullpen. Devon Travis' RBI single in the sixth off reliever Chase Bebout (2-2) cut the Blue Devils' lead to 8-6.

Things got much worse for Bebout in the seventh when McGee, Ramsey and Boyd singled on his first three pitches. Boyd's single pulled the 'Noles within one before Brunelle fisted an opposite field single to shallow left to tie the game.

Freshman Sean O'Brien, who made his first career start as the designated hitter, unlocked the tie with a run-scoring sacrifice fly to center for a 9-8 FSU lead. Erif Pfisterer replaced Bebout and got a quick out before Duke third baseman Jordan Betts booted pinch-hitter Stuart Tapley's grounder. Travis walked to load the bases for Johnson, who lined a three-run double to center for a 12-8 lead.

"A string of hits like that was great to see," said Johnson.

"The guys who hit in the middle of the order today had a lot of good at-bats and drove in a lot of runs," Martin added.

With the victory, the Seminoles secured their first series sweep of an ACC opponent since taking three from Boston College on the opening weekend of league play. With Clemson's Saturday loss to Wake Forest, FSU was able to push its Atlantic Division lead to three games.

"It's been a while," Johnson said. "[A sweep] is very important, especially at this point in the season...All of these from here on out are important for us and what we're trying to accomplish as a team."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  1  1   1  1  1  2  3
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  1  1   3  1  1  0  4
Mike McGee              CF        4  3  2   0  1  0  1  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  3  3   1  0  0  2  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  2  3   4  0  0 12  0
Parker Brunelle         C         4  1  2   2  0  0  6  0
Sean O'Brien            DH        3  0  1   2  0  1  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  0  0   0  1  3  2  5
Seth Miller             LF        2  0  0   0  0  0  1  0
  Sean Gilmartin        PH-LF     0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Stuart Tapley         PH-LF     1  1  0   0  0  0  0  0
David Trexler           P                            0  0
  Gary Merians          P                            0  0
  Mack Waugh            P                            0  1
  Brian Busch           P                            1  1
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              34 13 13  13  4  6 27 14
Opp                              37  9 13   9  4  6 24  2

E - Opp-2, FSU-Devon Travis (11)
2B - Opp-4, FSU-Sherman Johnson (13), James Ramsey (13), Jayce Boyd (9), Parker Brunelle (5)
HBP - FSU-James Ramsey (6), Sean Gilmartin (1)
SH - FSU-Parker Brunelle (1)
SF - Opp-1, FSU-Jayce Boyd (7), Sean O'Brien 2 (2)
SB - Opp-2

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
David Trexler                   1.1  5  6  6  2  0
Gary Merians                    0.1  3  2  2  0  0
Mack Waugh           W (2-1)    5.1  3  0  0  1  5
Brian Busch                     1.2  2  1  0  1  1
Daniel Bennett       Sv(6)      0.1  0  0  0  0  0
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0 13  9  8  4  6
Opp                  L          8.0 13 13 10  4  6


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Duke
2
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
9
13
2
Florida State
4
0
0
0
1
1
6
1
x
13
13
1
Attendance: 3,971

Florida State 6, Miami 5
04/29/2011, Coral Gables, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Sprint At Finish.

Johnson scores game-winner on wild pitch to beat 'Canes, 6-5.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Weather delays, less-than-sharp pitching and shoddy defense figured prominently in Friday night's fractured Florida State-Miami series opener.

Ultimately, the Seminoles made the break that mattered most in the top of the ninth in a 6-5 victory.

Sherman Johnson raced home from third base on a two-out wild pitch by Travis Miller, providing the eighth-ranked Seminoles (32-10, 15-7 ACC) with the decisive run. Johnson's alter break for the plate was set up when the junior second baseman hustled from first to third when Miami left fielder Zeke DeVoss' failed diving attempt to snag James Ramsey's single.

"When I saw him [DeVoss] dive and saw the ball dislodge and get away from him, I knew there was no way he could miss the ball, get up and throw me out," said Johnson. "I just ran."

FSU closer Daniel Bennett (3-1), who yielded a game-tying single in the eighth which cost him his seventh save, made amends in the ninth. The side-arm slinging right-hander struck out Nathan Melendres, Rony Rodriguez and Harold Martinez in order to preserve the victory.

By closing out the 14th-ranked Hurricanes (28-14, 15-6) in the ninth, the Seminoles extended their season-best winning streak to eight games.

"We were kind of down a little bit," Bennett said of the mood, after Miami tied the game on a Stephen Perez RBI single in the eighth. "We had been ahead the whole game and we let them back in the game; we let them tie it up. When we got back in the dugout we got the guys together and Ramsey spoke. ... 'Let's get after it right here. Let's fight hard for one inning, get out of here and come back tomorrow, but we've got to get one across.'"

The 'Noles did just that when Johnson was hit by a Miller pitch, then raced his way into scoring position on Ramsey's single.

The Seminoles and Hurricanes waited out a 65-minute weather delay before the game began and were waved off the field by home plate umpire Frank Sylvester at 10:17 p.m. with lightning visible in the sky. Play resumed in the sixth inning after 18 minutes.

Beyond the weather, the game had a little bit of everything. Miami committed a season-high seven errors, hit three Seminole batters and uncorked a pair of wild pitches which led to runs. Oddly enough, Mike Martin's club could never put enough distance on its lead to feel safe.

"Baseball's crazy," Martin said. "You just never know what to expect. I can go back and tell you the 182 times I've played against the University of Miami in my career stories that you wouldn't believe. Whatever happens in this series doesn't surprise me."

It's almost also a battle when the two teams meet and Friday night's game at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field - in front of a season-high crowd of 4,291 - was no exception. For the eighth time in the last 11 meetings, the game was decided by two runs or less.

This time, Florida State used the victory to even the all-time series on Miami's home field at 61-61-2.

Gilmartin, who was bidding for his 29th career win, tossed a season-high 112 pitches through seven innings and left with a 5-4 lead. That victory, which would have tied the junior left-hander for 10th on FSU's career wins last, will have to wait.

"[Gilmartin] showed what he's all about," Martin said, praising the staff ace, who came back out after the sixth-inning delay despite having offered up 100 pitches. "He's a warrior. He wasn't exactly smiles when I said, 'Nice game.' He doesn't like anybody to take the ball away from him."

Dale Carey opened the home eighth with a single off reliever Scott Sitz, then scored from second on Perez's looping liner to center off Bennett, knotting the score.

Miami jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second off Gilmartin, who uncharacteristically issued four walks, matching a career-high, though he did strike out six and allowed only seven hits.

The Seminoles battled back to tie the game in the third on Ramsey's RBI single - which extended his ACC-leading hitting streak to 20 games - and a run-scoring groundout by Jayce Boyd. A three-run fourth, highlighted by Mike McGee's two-run double to left, put the 'Noles in front, 5-2. FSU managed just two more hits, but made them count.

Ramsey and Rafael Lopez, back in the lineup after missing six games with a sore back, paced the Seminoles' seven-hit attack with two each.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  2  1   0  0  1  0  1
Sherman Johnson         3B        3  2  0   0  1  1  0  4
Mike McGee              CF        3  1  1   2  2  1  3  0
James Ramsey            RF        5  0  2   1  0  0  1  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        5  0  1   1  0  0 10  0
Rafael Lopez            C         5  0  2   0  0  0  9  2
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  0  0   0  0  0  1  3
Sean O'Brien            DH        2  1  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Parker Brunelle       PH-DH     2  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Taiwan Easterling       LF        2  0  0   0  0  2  2  0
  Seth Miller           LF        2  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
Sean Gilmartin          P                            1  1
  Scott Sitz            P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              36  6  7   4  3  6 27 11
Opp                              31  5  8   5  4 10 27 13

E - Opp-7, FSU-Sean Gilmartin (1)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Mike McGee (11)
HBP - FSU-Devon Travis (6), Sherman Johnson (3), Justin Gonzalez (13)
SH - Opp-4
SF - Opp-1
SB - FSU-Devon Travis 2 (5)
CS - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (4), Mike McGee (2)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Sean Gilmartin                  7.0  6  4  3  4  6
Scott Sitz                      0.1  1  1  1  0  0
Daniel Bennett       W (3-1)    1.2  1  0  0  0  4
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  8  5  4  4 10
Opp                  L          9.0  7  6  4  3  6


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
0
0
2
3
0
0
0
0
1
6
8
1
Miami
0
2
0
0
0
2
0
1
0
5
7
7
Attendance: 4,291

Florida State 2, Miami 0
04/30/2011, Coral Gables, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Sweet Shutout.

Seminoles blank Miami on road to seal series, 2-0.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

CORAL GABLES, FL - Hunter Scantling was sailing along with one out in the fifth against Miami when Florida State coach Mike Martin strode to the mound to lift the junior right-hander.

Martin asked Scantling for the ball and handed it to left-hander Brian Busch; never mind that the junior right-hander was working on a two-hit shutout.

"Did he deserve to be taken out of the ballgame? Probably not," Martin said. "It was just something that I felt, and I could have very well been wrong."

The decision paid big dividends and led the eighth-ranked Seminoles to 2-0 shutout victory over the Hurricanes in front of an Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field record crowd of 4,634.

Scantling, Busch and closer Daniel Bennett combined on a five-hitter as the Seminoles (33-10, 16-7 ACC) used their ninth consecutive win to secure the regular season series with their rivals. It was FSU's first shutout of the Hurricanes on their home turf since 2003.

With their sixth ACC series of the season in hand, Martin's club holds a four-game lead in the Atlantic Division over Clemson with six games remaining.

Suffering back-to-back league losses for the first time since late March - when they were swept at home by Georgia Tech - the No. 14 Hurricanes (28-15, 15-7) slipped further back in the once-tight Coastal Division race.

One night after Miami committed a season-high seven errors, right fielder Dale Carey's misplay of a Devon Travis single in the fifth provided the Seminoles with all the runs they would need. Justin Gonzalez led off the fifth by singling off starter Eric Whaley before Travis lined hit two-out single to right, which escaped Carey. Gonzalez came all the way around from first to score and provide the 'Noles with a 1-0 lead.

The Seminoles added an all-important insurance run in the seventh when Rafael Lopez doubled off the right field fence and senior DH Parker Brunelle poled a one-out, RBI double to right.

"To do something like that down here in Miami, no matter what happens, that was a good feeling," said Brunelle. "We had the lead at the time, but to get a hit like that to put us up by two late in the game ... that was fun. That was a good spot."

Beyond the rock-solid pitching effort of the Seminole trio, Florida State's defense was flawless; no small factor in the outcome considering the Hurricanes stranded 11 baserunners.

Martin's decision to replace Scantling with Busch (3-1) was based largely on match-ups and worked even better than expected. The left-hander got the game into the eighth before he turned the ball over to Bennett, who recorded the final four outs for his seventh save of the season.

Scantling scattered two hits over 4.1 innings, but did his best work in the third when he picked off Miami's Zeke DeVoss and Stephen Perez at second base for the second and third outs of the inning.

"It's a timing move that we've worked on since day one when I got here," Scantling said of the pickoff play. "It was just the right time to use it. They were finding something to go off of when I turned my head. And right when I turned my head, the second baseman breaks, and we got 'em."

The right-hander, who has helped FSU rattle off three consecutive Saturday wins and four straight Saturday losses, struck out two and walked four. And he'll get the ball again next Saturday against UCF.

Busch also yielded a pair of walks but got the Hurricanes to fly out seven times into a stiff wind which kept several balls in the park. Bennett took over from there.

"He's a fierce competitor," Busch said of Bennett. "And when you hand the ball over, you know he's gonna get you out of it."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  0  2   0  1  1  2  5
Sherman Johnson         3B        5  0  1   0  0  2  1  3
Mike McGee              CF        4  0  0   0  1  2  4  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  0  1   0  0  1  6  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        2  0  0   0  0  0  9  0
Rafael Lopez            C         4  1  2   0  0  0  3  1
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  1  1   0  0  0  0  2
Parker Brunelle         DH        4  0  1   1  0  0  0  0
Seth Miller             LF        4  0  0   0  0  2  2  0
Hunter Scantling        P                            0  2
  Brian Busch           P                            0  1
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  1
                                 ========================
FSU                              35  2  8   1  2  8 27 15
Opp                              30  0  5   0  8  3 27  9

E - Opp-2
2B - Opp-1, FSU-James Ramsey (14), Rafael Lopez (13), Parker Brunelle (6)
HBP - FSU-Jayce Boyd (3)
SH - FSU-Jayce Boyd (2)
SB - Opp-2
CS - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Hunter Scantling                4.1  2  0  0  4  2
Brian Busch          W (3-1)    3.1  2  0  0  2  0
Daniel Bennett       Sv(7)      1.1  1  0  0  2  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  5  0  0  8  3
Opp                  L          9.0  8  2  1  2  8


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
2
8
0
Miami
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
2
Attendance: 4,634

Miami 5, Florida State 1
05/01/2011, Coral Gables, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Sunday Bummer.

Seminoles stymied in bid for first road sweep of UM since '02.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

CORAL GABLES, FL - From the outset Sunday, it was apparent that Mike Martin's Florida State baseball team would be battling uphill in its bid to post the first three-game road sweep of Miami since 2002.

The eighth-ranked Seminoles (33-11, 16-8 ACC) managed just three hits through six innings against Miami starter E.J. Encinosa. In the end, Florida State simply could not overcome an early, three-run deficit, falling 5-1 in the series finale at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Stadium.

Miami struck for a pair of runs in the first off senior right-hander Mike McGee (1-2), who was making his first start since March of last season, and added a single run in the second for a 3-0 cushion.

Seminole second baseman Devon Travis' 1-for-5 performance at the plate may have been the best measure for the kind of day Martin's club endured. The junior leadoff batter squared up ball in his first four at-bats, but came away empty-handed; the victim of nifty glove-work by the 'Canes and a third consecutive day playing into a stiff head-wind which kept balls hanging in the air.

"Unbelievable," Martin said, shaking his head in amazement. "I've seen guys hit two or three, but not four, right on the button and be 0-for-4."

"It was just one of those days for me and for us as a team," said Travis. "I really thought we played good baseball and we just didn't get the 'W'."

Harold Martinez's two-run double in the first and Zeke DeVoss' RBI double in the second provided the 14th-ranked Hurricanes (29-15, 16-7) with all the runs they would need.

The Seminoles did keep it interesting. FSU reliever Mack Waugh continued his team's solid work out of the bullpen, delivering 3.1 innings of two-hit, one-run relief after following McGee. Six Seminole relievers combined to limit the Hurricanes to six hits and a pair of runs over the final six innings, continuing a weekend-long trend.

Miami mustered just three earned runs against the FSU bullpen all weekend.

"We kept ourselves in the game," Martin said. "Like I told the guys, what made me so proud was the way that we fought and came back to put ourselves in position to tie it up in the ninth inning."

James Ramsey's solo home run in the eighth - off UM reliever Travis Miller - not only extended his league-leading hitting streak to 22 games, but prevented the Hurricanes from matching the Seminoles' Saturday shutout. Ramsey's opposite field shot was the only ball that left the park in three games.

It might have loomed larger in the outcome had the 'Canes not tacked on single runs in the sixth and seventh to open up a 5-0 lead.

Without Ramsey's blast, the 'Noles would have not got the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth after singles by Justin Gonzalez, Robby Stahl and Travis loaded the bases.

"It's hard to set the table when you're playing in front of this crowd," said Ramsey. "They've got a great pitching staff - they showed that all weekend - so it showed a lot of us to get that tying run to the plate at the end."

The rally fizzled - and the game ended - when Miami center fielder Nathan Melendres raced in to snare Sherman Johnson's liner for the final out.

In the process of holding FSU's bats in check, Encinosa and Miller combined for 14 strikeouts, further limiting any run-scoring threats by Martin's club.

Despite the setback, the Seminoles strengthened their postseason hopes by winning the road series against a Miami team that had won 14 of 16 coming into the weekend.

"It's pretty big, especially against a team like Miami," Ramsey said. "We knew coming down that they were going to play their best series of the year against us and we needed to do the same."

The Seminoles hold a three-game lead over Clemson in the ACC Atlantic Division standings with six league games to play. Still, there are plenty of challenges ahead, beginning with Tuesday's road game at Jacksonville, which is second in the Atlantic Sun Conference, and a three-game, weekend homestand coming up against UCF.

"I don't think that there's any question that this helps us," Martin said of the series win against the 'Canes. "We've just got to continue to play well in the three next series that we have."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        5  0  1   0  0  0  4  3
Sherman Johnson         3B        5  0  0   0  0  2  1  2
Mike McGee              P-DH      3  0  1   0  1  2  1  0
James Ramsey            RF        3  1  1   1  1  0  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  0  1   0  0  3  6  0
Rafael Lopez            C         2  0  0   0  1  1  9  2
  Parker Brunelle       C         1  0  0   0  0  1  1  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  0  1   0  0  2  0  1
Seth Miller             LF-CF     2  0  1   0  0  1  1  0
  Sean O'Brien          PH        1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
Taiwan Easterling       CF        2  0  0   0  0  1  1  0
  Robby Stahl           LF        1  0  1   0  0  0  0  0
  Mack Waugh            P                            0  0
  Tye Buckley           P                            0  0
  Scott Sitz            P                            0  0
  Robby Scott           P                            0  0
  Jack Posey            P                            0  0
  Adam Simmons          P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              33  1  7   1  3 14 24  8
Opp                              32  5 10   5  8  9 27  5

E - FSU-Jayce Boyd (6)
2B - Opp-4
HR - FSU-James Ramsey (7)
HBP - Opp-1, FSU-Seth Miller (4)
SH - FSU-Taiwan Easterling (2)
CS - Opp-2

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Mike McGee           L (1-2)    2.0  4  3  3  2  2
Mack Waugh                      3.1  2  1  1  4  4
Tye Buckley                     0.0  0  0  0  1  0
Scott Sitz                      1.0  3  1  1  0  1
Robby Scott                     1.0  0  0  0  0  2
Jack Posey                      0.1  1  0  0  1  0
Adam Simmons                    0.1  0  0  0  0  0
                               ===================
FSU                             8.0 10  5  5  8  9
Opp                  W-Sv       9.0  7  1  1  3 14


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
7
1
Miami
2
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
x
5
10
0
Attendance: 3,507

Florida State 8, Jacksonville 5
05/03/2011, Jacksonville, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Big Fin-ish!

Benincasa keeps 'Noles close before bats take down Dolphins.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

JACKSONVILLE, FL - Robert Benincasa has been looking for a sign; something positive to validate his sizeable skill-set. Florida State's sophomore right-hander found it at the most opportune time Tuesday night at Jacksonville.

On in relief of starter David Trexler in the second inning, Benincasa struck out a career-high six in a season-best five innings to keep the sixth-ranked Seminoles in the game.

FSU capped a late rally with a three-run ninth, highlighted by Justin Gonzalez's towering two-run homer, to defeat the Dolphins 8-5 at John Sessions Stadium.

"Any time you're on the road playing a club as talented as JU (and) you fall behind three runs, it's just a credit to our young men for fighting to get back in it," said FSU coach Mike Martin. "We had some pick-me-ups, certainly Benincasa, Boomer [Brian Busch] and Daniel [Bennett]. ... I'm very, very pleased because I know how tough the next 10 games are. I guess you might say each game is preparing you to play in a regional."

The Seminoles (34-11) demonstrated both resilience and perseverance after spotting the Dolphins (26-17) a 3-0 lead in the second. After retiring JU in order in the first, Trexler ran into trouble quickly as the Dolphins loaded the bases on a double, error and a walk. Alex Swenson's two-run single to left put FSU in a 2-0 and Trexler's day ended when he hit the next batter with a pitch, reloading the bases with no out.

Benincasa issued a four-pitch, RBI walk to Esterlin Perozo but retired the next three Dolphins in order.

"In that situation I just wanted to minimize the damage as much as I could," said Benincasa. "Walking the first guy on four straight pitches definitely wasn't the start I wanted. ... I'm glad we were able to get out of that situation and keep it as close as possible."

FSU went to work on erasing the deficit in the third on Rafael Lopez's two-out, two-run single to left. The Dolphins got one of those runs back on Adam Brett Walker's 10th homer of the season - a leadoff, line drive shot over the wall in the power alley - in the home half for a 4-2 edge. Mike McGee delivered a counter-punch with a two-out, RBI double in the top of the fourth.

Meanwhile, Benincasa was settling in. He limited the Dolphins to two hits and just one run and finishing his five-inning stint by striking out the side in the sixth.

"It was definitely good, especially this time of year, when you're heading into the postseason," Benincasa said of his performance. "You need to be ready. Especially as a pitcher, you want to have that confidence. I think it kind of showed that after getting used to the mound and getting used to pitching, my innings kept getting better and better. ... The last inning was my best inning. It shows, hopefully, how I'm going to be. The more I pitch the better I'm going to do in the long run."

Benincasa gave way to Brian Busch (4-1), who was the benefactor of FSU's comeback, securing the win after pitching the seventh. The 'Noles tied the game in the top of the seventh when Sherman Johnson (3-for-3) singled and stole second, then scored from third on Jayce Boyd's two-out, bunt single.

"It surprised me," Martin said of Boyd's bunt to the third base side of the pitcher's mound. "It took them by surprise. ... It was his call all the way. I would love to say I told him to do it."

FSU took the lead in the eighth on Johnson's RBI single to right after Gonzalez walked and stole second and third. The 'Noles seemingly broke the game open with a three-run ninth. James Ramsey extended his hitting streak to 23 games - the fourth longest active streak in the nation - with a leadoff single, stole second and scored on Boyd's RBI single to left. Boyd was thrown out trying to advance on the play, but the rally continued with a Lopez double, setting up Gonzalez.

The sophomore shortstop's sixth home run of the season disappeared into the light stanchion in left field, leaving no doubt from the time it came off the bat.

"I was happy to hit it hard," said Gonzalez, who came into the game in a 2-for-14 funk at the plate. "I was hitting the ball hard this past weekend at Miami, but they weren't falling. That one fell. Luckily it went out of the park."

Jacksonville, which was outhit 13-8, mounted their own ninth inning rally from an 8-4 deficit, but could not come up with punishing big hit against FSU closer Daniel Bennett.

Bennett worked out of a bases loaded jam and secured his eighth save when he struck out Matt Frank to seal the win.

McGee, Boyd, Lopez and Gonzalez each collected a pair of hits for the Seminoles, who will entertain UCF in a three-game, weekend homestand, beginning Friday.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        3  0  0   0  2  1  1  3
Sherman Johnson         3B        3  3  3   1  2  0  0  1
Mike McGee              CF        5  1  2   1  0  2  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        5  1  1   0  0  0  2  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  0  2   2  1  0  6  0
Rafael Lopez            C         5  1  2   2  0  0 11  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        2  2  2   2  2  0  3  2
Sean O'Brien            DH        3  0  1   0  0  0  0  0
  Parker Brunelle       PH-DH     2  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Taiwan Easterling       LF        4  0  0   0  0  0  1  0
  Seth Miller           PH-LF     1  0  0   0  0  0  1  0
David Trexler           P                            0  0
  Robert Benincasa      P                            0  0
  Brian Busch           P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              37  8 13   8  7  3 27  6
Opp                              36  5  8   5  5 11 27 11

E - FSU-Devon Travis (12)
2B - Opp-2, FSU-Mike McGee (12), Rafael Lopez (14)
HR - Opp-1, FSU-Justin Gonzalez (6)
HBP - Opp-2, FSU-Justin Gonzalez (14)
SB - FSU-Sherman Johnson (9), James Ramsey (7), Justin Gonzalez 2 (5)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
David Trexler                   1.0  2  3  2  1  1
Robert Benincasa                5.0  2  1  1  2  6
Brian Busch          W (4-1)    1.0  1  0  0  1  2
Daniel Bennett       Sv(8)      2.0  3  1  1  1  2
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  8  5  4  5 11
Opp                  L          9.0 13  8  8  7  3


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
0
0
2
1
0
0
1
1
3
8
13
1
Jacksonville
0
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
5
8
0
Attendance: 2,512

Florida State 8, Central Florida 0
05/06/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Gilmartin Is Knights Out.

Seminole ace fans 11, walks just one and does not give up a run in seven innings to move to 8-1.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - On the opening night of a big in-state series the Seminoles once again rode the left arm of staff ace Sean Gilmartin to victory. Florida State's national pitcher of the year candidate reached double digit strikeouts for the fourth time in 11 starts fanning 11 and walking just one. He raised his record to 8-1 throwing seven shutout innings as Florida State (35-11) took the opening game of the series versus UCF (28-18) 8-0.

"That was a good baseball game," said FSU Head Coach Mike Martin. "I am just very pleased with the way we played. Obviously we all know the story of the game, that's Sean Gilmartin. You just don't go out there and do what he did and act like it's expected. That young man had a very good outing."

The California native had a good game indeed. Gilmartin threw 105 pitches, 71 went for strikes. He has now fanned 30 batters in his last three starts and he has lowered his ERA to 1.36.

"Everything felt good," said Gilmartin of his outing. "The ball was coming out...felt good coming out of my hand and everything was where I wanted it to be."

Gilmartin kept the Seminoles in a game in which they jumped out to an early lead but failed to cash in on a few opportunities to extend the lead early on. After racing in front 3-0 after three innings, FSU stranded seven runners in the fourth, fifth and sixth before breaking the game open with a five run seventh.

"The 7, 8, 9 are the innings we try to really take over and produce the most so it was huge for us," said Ramsey. "We had a lot of great at bats and pushed the lead out a little farther."

While the story of the night may have been Gilmartin, his roommate Ramsey stole the headlines early on. After extending his ACC-leading hitting streak in the ninth inning to get to 22 and 23 games, Ramsey took all the suspense out of things early on Friday. The junior singled with two outs in the third to up his hit streak to 24 games, which ranked fourth in the nation coming into the game Friday.

Rafael Lopez opened the scoring in the second by sneaking his third homerun of the year just inside the right field foul pole. The Seminoles added on in the third when Sherman Johnson laced a two-run double to up his season total to 14 extending FSU's lead to 3-0.

The game remained 3-0 until the bottom of the seventh when the Seminoles knocked UCF starter Brian Adkins out of the game after he gave up 12 hits. Lopez singled home a run on a blooper to shallow center and then another run came in on a wild pitch to put the lead up to 5-0. A Parker Brunelle sac fly made it 6-0 Seminoles. The lead ballooned to 8-0 thanks to a two-run double off the right field screen by Devon Travis. It was his ACC-leading 20th double of the year.

The Seminoles and Knights will go back at it starting at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The game will be televised by Sun Sports and prior to the game there will be a special ceremony during which eight FSU players will take part in a special graduation commencement program on the field with Dr. Eric Barron presiding. This was arranged to make up for the fact that these players were in Miami during last week's university-wide graduation. The players participating are: Daniel Bennett (criminology), Taiwan Easterling (social science), Tyler Everett (finance), Rafael Lopez (social science/political science), Mike McGee (political science/economics), Jack Posey (social science), Robby Scott (sociology), Robby Stahl (human sciences) and Stuart Tapley (finance).

NOTES - Florida State right fielder James Ramsey was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 3 team on Friday. The junior has a 3.87 GPA and is a finance major. He was one of four ACC baseball players to make the all-district first team.

Junior ace Sean Gilmartin was one of 25 pitchers named to the College Baseball Foundation's National Pitcher of the Year watch list. Four ACC pitchers were among the 25 selections.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  1  2   2  1  0  1  2
Sherman Johnson         3B        5  0  2   2  0  1  1  3
Mike McGee              CF        4  1  2   0  0  0  1  0
  Seth Miller           CF        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  1  3   0  0  0  1  0
  Robby Stahl           RF        1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        3  0  1   0  0  0  8  0
  Jack Posey            PH-1B     1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
Rafael Lopez            C         4  2  2   2  1  0 14  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  1  1   0  1  0  0  2
Sean O'Brien            DH        3  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
  Parker Brunelle       PH        0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0
Taiwan Easterling       LF        3  2  2   0  1  1  1  0
Sean Gilmartin          P                            0  1
  Tye Buckley           P                            0  0
  Tyler Everett         P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              35  8 15   7  4  5 27  8
Opp                              31  0  4   0  1 13 24  9

2B - FSU-Devon Travis (20), Sherman Johnson (14), James Ramsey (15)
HR - FSU-Rafael Lopez (3)
HBP - Opp-1, FSU-Seth Miller (5)
SH - FSU-Jayce Boyd (3)
SF - FSU-Parker Brunelle (1)
SB - FSU-Jayce Boyd (7), Rafael Lopez (8), Taiwan Easterling (4)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Sean Gilmartin       W (8-1)    7.0  3  0  0  1 11
Tye Buckley                     1.0  0  0  0  0  0
Tyler Everett                   1.0  1  0  0  0  2
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  4  0  0  1 13
Opp                  L          8.0 15  8  8  4  5


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Central Florida
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
Florida State
0
1
2
0
0
0
5
0
x
8
15
0
Attendance: 4,448

Central Florida 14, Florida State 10
05/07/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Graduating Class.

Seminoles' special night tempered by 14-10 defeat.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida State spent the latter stages of Saturday night's game chasing UCF's lead at Dick Howser Stadium, but never could catch the Knights.

The sixth-ranked Seminoles (35-12) out-hit the visitors 15-11, but were undone by a season-high tying four errors, which led to five unearned runs and a 14-10 loss.

The outcome spoiled an otherwise special day as 5,389 fans turned out to see eight Seminole seniors graduate in a pregame ceremony conducted by Florida State University president Dr. Eric J. Barron.

Daniel Bennett, Taiwan Easterling, Tyler Everett, Rafael Lopez, Mike McGee, Jack Posey, Robby Scott and Robby Stahl took part in the ceremony. Stuart Tapley was also recognized, but not in attendance, as he tends to his ailing father at home in Orlando.

"It was very exciting; a moment that I'll remember, because I don't get to graduation exercises," said FSU coach Mike Martin. "We're playing that night, whether it's home or away.

"That was significant, meaningful and important to me; something that we might just look at to start a tradition."

The first-of-its-kind ceremony was held on the playing field because the Seminoles were at Miami when last weekend's commencement was held.

"It was great," said McGee. "It meant more to the parents. They didn't get to see us walk in the ceremony, so it was a great thing. After working hard for four years, to have this, it's nice to be recognized and I get to go through this like all the other students."

While the graduating players were recognized by the fans with a standing ovation at the end of the 10-minute ceremony, the game itself took on the life of a more traditional commencement - lasting nearly four hours.

Five Seminole pitchers saw action, with limited success as the pesky Knights (29-18) - who are battling to keep their postseason hopes alive - capitalized on walks, defensive and base-running miscues.

UCF erased an early 2-0 deficit with two runs in the third off starter Hunter Scantling, then wiped out a 4-2 deficit with a four-run fifth when the Seminoles committed two errors and Erik Hempe followed with a two-run double.

FSU scored single runs in the fifth and sixth on RBI singles by Taiwan Easterling and Rafael Lopez, to tie the game at 6-6. It was a short-lived rally for the Seminoles, who were roughed up for seven runs by the Knights in the seventh. UCF sent 10 batters to the plate and parlayed five hits and two walks into a 13-6 lead. Jonathan Griffin's grand slam off reliever Scott Sitz was the biggest blow in the game turning frame.

FSU, however, refused to go quietly, leading the bases in the home seventh when McGee uncorked a the fourth grand slam home run of his career. It was his team-leading eighth home of the season and 50th of his career, tying him for fifth place on the school's career list with Ryan Barthelemy.

"We fought hard and continued to come back," McGee said. "It was a rough game. Things didn't go our way and it wasn't really well-played by us, but I was still happy with the way we didn't give up."

UCF tacked on an insurance run in the eighth to close out the scoring.

Afterward, Martin said he was thankful that - unlike football coaches - he won't have to wait a week to get back out on the field again.

"Tomorrow at this time, this game is all going to be forgotten," Martin said. "I won't' go home with a smile on my face by any stretch of the imagination. We have to correct the mistakes that we made. We get to play again the next day."

The defensive miscues and base-running gaffes - two 'Noles were thrown out in the late innings trying to stretch singles into double - were uncharacteristic for a team that was fielding at a school-record .975 clip.

"You just have to throw that away," said McGee, who will get the start in Sunday's series finale against the Knights. "It was really a rarity. I don't know the last time we made that many errors."

Over-shadowed in defeat were several standout performances, including Easterling 3-for-5 night at the plate, which matched a career-high for hits and gave him consecutive multi-hit games for the first time in his career.

McGee (3-for-6) drove in five runs, while Devon Travis (3-for-4), Sherman Johnson (2-for-4) and Jayce Boyd (2-for-5) also turned in multi-hit games.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  2  3   1  1  0  0  2
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  1  2   1  2  1  1  2
Mike McGee              CF        6  1  3   5  0  1  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        3  1  0   1  1  1  1  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        5  0  2   0  0  0 13  2
Rafael Lopez            C         5  0  1   1  0  1  4  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  1  1   0  1  2  1  5
Parker Brunelle         DH        3  2  0   0  2  1  0  0
Taiwan Easterling       LF        5  2  3   1  0  1  2  0
Hunter Scantling        P                            0  2
  Brian Busch           P                            0  1
  Scott Sitz            P                            2  0
  Robby Scott           P                            0  0
  Adam Simmons          P                            1  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              39 10 15  10  7  8 27 14
Opp                              40 14 11  11  8  3 27 11

E - FSU-Brian Busch (1), Devon Travis (13), Sherman Johnson (9), Rafael Lopez (2)
2B - Opp-2, FSU-Justin Gonzalez (9)
HR - Opp-2, FSU-Devon Travis (5), Mike McGee (8)
HBP - FSU-Devon Travis (7)
SH - Opp-1
SF - FSU-James Ramsey (3)
SB - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Hunter Scantling                4.1  3  4  2  5  2
Brian Busch          L (4-2)    1.2  4  4  2  1  0
Scott Sitz                      0.2  4  5  5  1  0
Robby Scott                     0.1  0  0  0  0  0
Adam Simmons                    2.0  0  1  0  1  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0 11 14  9  8  3
Opp                  W          9.0 15 10 10  8  8


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Central Florida
0
0
2
0
4
0
7
1
0
14
11
0
Florida State
1
1
0
2
1
1
4
0
0
10
15
4
Attendance: 5,389

Florida State 6, Central Florida 1
05/08/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

McGee-ja Vu!

Seminoles' senior shuts down UCF from hill, adds homer.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State donned its customary home gold uniforms for Sunday's critical series-finale against UCF, but it sure did feel like a "Throwback" day at Dick Howser Stadium.

Senior Mike McGee turned in a starting pitching performance reminiscent of his 2009 campaign - limiting the Knights to one hit and a run in seven innings - and helped put a cap on the sixth-ranked Seminoles' 6-1 victory with a solo home run in the eighth inning.

"Somebody said, 'Deja vu,' when he hit the ball out of the ballpark," FSU coach Mike Martin said of McGee. "It seemed that when he pitched on Sunday he hit home run a couple years ago. What was impressive, too, is I could not tell a difference in his fastball from the first inning until the sixth inning. He still had good velocity. He's a strong young man. ... It was a big lift."

Making just his second start of the season, McGee matched his career-high with seven innings of one-hit baseball. It was his longest outing since April 26, 2009 against Wake Forest, back when he was the Seminoles' Sunday starter.

The performance more than atoned for last Sunday's two-inning stint in a loss at Miami. Most importantly, it gave the Seminoles (36-12) an additional boost in their bid to earn a top-eight national postseason seed. UCF (29-19) came into the week with a No. 31 NCAA RPI ranking. FSU entered the week at No. 7 and should not lose any ground after going 3-1, including a road win at Jacksonville (No. 50) on Tuesday.

"This was an important game," Martin said. "You're playing a club with an RPI as high as theirs, we needed the ballgame. You could tell the way guys approached it."

Saturday's 14-10 loss to the Knights, aided by four errors which led to five unearned runs, provided additional fuel for the Seminoles.

"Getting this win today was really big for our team," said McGee, who was 2-for-2 at the plate in addition to shining on the mound. "For our team to be able to put [Saturday's loss] behind us, come out fresh and play the way we did today, I was really proud of the guys."

No one appeared more revved than sophomore second baseman Devon Travis (2-for-4), who committed a pair of errors on Saturday. Travis broke a scoreless deadlock with a two-out, solo homer to left in the home third, then led off a three-run sixth with a double as the Seminoles broke a scoreless tie.

"It was a rough night last night," Travis said. "... It was a good series win and I was definitely one of the guys who had a little extra intensity."

Jayce Boyd followed Sherman Johnson's RBI double in the momentum-changing sixth with his own double - a two-run shot past diving UCF third baseman Derek Luciano - to give the 'Noles a 4-1 lead. Boyd, who drove in a game-high three runs to take over the team lead (49) added an RBI single in the eighth that closed out the scoring.

"To get a big hit like that sparks the defense as well," Boyd said of the double. "It's usually the opposite way - defense sparks the offense. It was the other way around."

FSU's defense was brilliant in the series finale, with Boyd digging a couple throws out of the dirt at first, center fielder Taiwan Easterling laying out to snare a sinking line drive and the infield turning three double plays. The 'Noles put any notion of a UCF comeback to rest with double plays in the eighth and ninth after the Knights mustered leadoff singles against FSU closer Daniel Bennett.

"We turned three double plays and [Travis] turned them all," Martin said. "There were a lot of big things that went on and the double plays were certainly huge.

"Our guys weren't not really happy with what happened last night and it goes to show you what character there is on this club, the way we got after it - everybody."

Still, no one expected a vintage performance from McGee, who dominated the Knights. He struck out seven, issued just three walks and registered 52 strikes on his 86 pitches.

"I wanted to keep us close to get it to where our relievers could work," McGee said. "That's all I was hoping for, to keep it close. It worked out a lot better. I hit my spots with pretty much all my pitches. I was pretty happy it all worked out."

McGee's lone mistake was a ball he left up, which Luciano sent over the right field screen to lead off the fifth.

"He got done after the seventh and I said, 'Mike, look at that hit column,' Travis said, sharing the dugout exchange. "There was one hit. He said, 'Dude, I should have never given up that home run.'"

"Mike's just a guy who when you need him, he's going to be there."

Boyd concurred.

"To get a guy out there who is a leader and you look up;, for him to get out there and do what he's capable of doing just puts us in great position to win ballgames and puts a lot of confidence in our team.," Boyd said.

The Seminoles will take that confidence back on the road. FSU travels to Stetson, which boasts a top-20 RPI ranking and has a 6-4 win over the 'Noles already, on Tuesday. Sophomore right-hander Robert Benincasa will make his first start of the season.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  2  2   1  0  0  4  5
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  1  1   1  0  3  1  1
Mike McGee              P-DH      2  2  2   1  1  0  0  1
James Ramsey            RF        3  1  0   0  0  0  3  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  0  2   3  0  0  9  0
Rafael Lopez            C         4  0  2   0  0  0  7  1
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  0  0   0  0  2  0  3
Taiwan Easterling       CF        3  0  0   0  1  0  2  0
Seth Miller             LF        3  0  0   0  0  0  1  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              31  6  9   6  2  5 27 11
Opp                              28  1  4   1  3  8 24 11

2B - FSU-Devon Travis (21), Sherman Johnson (15), Jayce Boyd (10)
HR - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (6), Mike McGee (9)
HBP - FSU-Mike McGee (4), James Ramsey (7)
SB - FSU-James Ramsey (8), Justin Gonzalez (6)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Mike McGee           W (2-2)    7.0  1  1  1  3  7
Daniel Bennett       Sv(9)      2.0  3  0  0  0  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  4  1  1  3  8
Opp                  L          8.0  9  6  6  2  5


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Central Florida
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
4
0
Florida State
0
0
1
0
0
3
0
2
x
6
9
0
Attendance: 4,126

Florida State 13, Stetson 1
05/10/2011, DeLand, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Tapley's Back!

Senior captain provides big lift as 'Noles blast Hatters, 13-1.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

DELAND, FL - Florida State senior Stuart Tapley rejoined his teammates Tuesday night at Stetson's Melching Field at Conrad Park, two weeks after his father suffered a stroke back home in Orlando.

Tapley, a team captain the long-established emotional leader of the sixth-ranked Seminoles, was greeted by hugs and handshakes when he arrived at the park. It was a scene that was repeated again in the seventh inning, when Tapley's two-run single to left triggered FSU's runaway 13-1 victory over the 14th ranked Hatters.

"I've had a rough couple of weeks," said Tapley, who has been tending to his father's affairs. "I got a chance to spend some quality time with guys I'll talk to the rest of my life. ... I really needed to get away from everything, spend some time here and run around the ball field."

It was Tapley's first appearance in uniform since April 24 against Duke. A day later, he rushed home to be with his father after completing his last final examination and has been tending to his affairs since.

"I really wasn't expecting to play because I was out for two weeks," said Tapley, who replaced Seth Miller as the DH in the fifth. "I was happy to get the call."

Tapley matched his season-high with three RBI, drawing a run-scoring walk in Florida State's five-run eighth. The entire Seminole roster was outside the dugout to greet Tapley when he was replaced by pinch-runner Robby Stahl.

This was an important victory for FSU coach Mike Martin's club, which is vying for one of eight NCAA postseason national seeds. The Seminoles carried a No. 6 NCAA RPI ranking into the game, and beating a Stetson team with an NCAA RPI of No. 12 didn't hurt.

"I was ecstatic," Martin said. "I was very excited that we came down here with a team that was rated 12th in the country in the RPI. It was a good win for us."

Still, it wasn't easy. Not only did the Seminoles (37-12) have to take on an opponent with a similar desire to post a critical win, but they had to do it without leadoff batter and second baseman Devon Travis, who sprained an ankle during infield. A standing-room-only crowd of 2,815 also factored into the press-packed game.

"This was a big win under those conditions," said Martin, who moved Sherman Johnson to second and Rafael Lopez from catcher to third, and into the leadoff spot. "It was a shock when I'm sitting there in infield and I see the second baseman sprain his ankle and I know he's done. I don't know how long he's done."

Despite the runaway outcome, the game unfolded as a pitching duel between FSU sophomore Robert Benincasa and Stetson's Robbie Powell, both of whom were making their first starts of the season. Benincasa (2-0) earned the win with five solid innings, limiting the Hatters (37-11) to five hits and a single run.

Brian Busch relieved Benincasa in the sixth and pitched out of a jamming, striking out the final two batters with Hatters at second and third base in a 3-1 game.

"It was a big, big lift for us for Boomer to go out and pitch as well as he did," Martin said.

The Seminoles broke the game open with a four-run seventh on Tapley's two-run single up the middle and Lopez's fourth homer of the season - a two-run shot to right field. Any doubt about the outcome was put to rest in the eighth when FSU parlayed three hits and a bases-clearing throwing error into a five-run frame for a 12-1 lead.

Lopez matched Tapley's three RBI for the team lead, while Johnson, James Ramsey, Jayce Boyd, Justin Gonzalez and Taiwan Easterling each contributed two hits to FSU's 12-hit attack.

While elated with the outcome, Martin was genuinely happy to see Tapley back in the dugout.

"It was big for him to be back with his friends, his teammates," Martin said. "This is his extended family. He's our captain and he's just a big part of our program and he has been for four years. It was big for everybody."

If only for a night, at least at the moment, Tapley was glad to be back as well.

"You take for granted this game until you've been away from it for a couple weeks," Tapley said. "There's nothing like it, spending time with some of your best buds and great coaches. I'd never wish it on anybody to be in my situation, but I'll tell you, this was fun tonight, coming out to play a big baseball game and get the support of the guys.

"We're a family here. When one thing happens to one guy, it happens to us all. [The warm greeting from teammates] doesn't surprise me. That's just the genuine guys we have on this team."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Rafael Lopez            3B        4  2  1   3  1  1  1  2
Sherman Johnson         2B        4  1  2   1  1  1  6  3
Mike McGee              CF        5  0  0   0  0  0  1  0
James Ramsey            RF        5  1  2   0  0  1  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  2  2   1  0  0  8  1
  Jack Posey            PH-1B     1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  2  2   1  1  1  1  4
Parker Brunelle         C         5  0  0   0  0  1  6  0
Taiwan Easterling       LF        3  3  2   0  0  1  3  0
  Sean O'Brien          PH        1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Wil Breton            LF        0  0  0   0  0  0  1  0
Seth Miller             DH        1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Stuart Tapley         PH        1  1  1   3  2  0  0  0
  Robby Stahl           PR        0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0
Robert Benincasa        P                            0  0
  Brian Busch           P                            0  1
  Tyler Everett         P                            0  0
  Mack Waugh            P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              37 13 12   9  5  6 27 11
Opp                              31  1  6   1  4  6 27 12

E - Opp-2, FSU-Rafael Lopez (3), Parker Brunelle (3)
2B - Opp-1
3B - FSU-Jayce Boyd (4)
HR - FSU-Rafael Lopez (4)
HBP - Opp-2, FSU-Taiwan Easterling (4)
SH - Opp-1
SF - FSU-Justin Gonzalez (1)
SB - FSU-Jayce Boyd (8), Justin Gonzalez (7), Taiwan Easterling (5)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Robert Benincasa     W (2-0)    5.0  5  1  1  2  1
Brian Busch                     2.0  0  0  0  1  3
Tyler Everett                   1.0  0  0  0  1  0
Mack Waugh                      1.0  1  0  0  0  2
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  6  1  1  4  6
Opp                  L          9.0 12 13  8  5  6


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
0
1
0
1
1
0
4
5
1
13
12
2
Stetson
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
6
2
Attendance: 2,815

Florida State 9, North Carolina State 4
05/13/2011, Raleigh, N.C.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Raffy & Gilly Show.

Lopez launches bombs and Gilmartin silences Wolfpack, 9-4.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

RALEIGH, NC - Florida State's Rafael Lopez appears quite comfortable in the leadoff spot, even if it's only a temporary move.

Lopez opened Friday's game with a solo homer to right, then slammed a two-run shot in the third - his fifth and sixth of the season - that staked the Seminoles to a lead they never relinquished, en route to a 9-4 victory over NC State.

The fast start and another stout effort by staff ace Sean Gilmartin moved the sixth-ranked Seminoles (38-12, 17-8 ACC) a step closer to their fifth ACC Atlantic Division title in six years.

Gilmartin (9-1) turned in 7.1 innings of five-hit work, posting nine strikeouts without issuing a free pass for the fifth time this season. Though he was touched for four runs, they were all unearned, courtesy a less-than-stellar, four-error defensive performance by the Seminoles. The junior left-hander extended his streak of consecutive innings without allowing an earned run to 15.

"Gilly was a warrior," FSU head coach Mike Martin said. "There's no two ways about it. We did not play well behind him, but he kept his poise and kept getting us in the dugout. We never back up from a win, but that was ugly."

With nine strikeouts, Gilmartin pushed his career total to 298; just one behind former Seminole star and No. 1 overall draft pick Paul Wilson, for 10th on the school's all-time list. It was his 13th consecutive quality start, dating to last year's College World Series.

What made the performance even more impressive was the 91-minute weather delay Gilmartin and the 'Noles endured midway through the contest. FSU's ace had thrown just 43 pitches when play was stopped in with one out in the fifth after an RBI single by Andrew Ciencin pulled the Wolfpack (28-12, 11-14) within 3-1.

"It's tough to deal with mentally to go out there and throw four innings and have to stop everything once you were getting into a roll," Gilmartin said. "After that you just have to calm down and relax and take it as a new ball game pretty much. You just have to slow everything down. ...

"I felt fine coming back out. No problems at all. Coach (Jamey) Shouppe and I talked about it - if I had anything remotely tight or sore to stop, but I felt fine."

The Wolfpack made it a one-run game when Cameron Conner, the first batter to face Gilmartin after the delay, grounded into a run-scoring fielder's choice.

The teams traded runs in the seventh. Florida State got one of those runs back when Mike McGee walked, stole second and raced home from third on a two-out wild pitch. State countered when Conner reached on shortstop Justin Gonzalez's second error of the game, Matt Bergquist singled and Chris Diaz dropped down a bunt single, loading the bases with no outs.

Gilmartin, however, minimized the damage. Chris Schaeffer's run-scoring sacrifice pulled the 'Pack within 4-3, but Gilmartin struck out John Gianis and Brett Williams to strand two on and preserve the lead. FSU countered with two runs in the top of the eighth when Gonzalez doubled, Parker Brunelle was hit by a pitch and Sean O'Brien grounded to Bergquist at second. The ball squirted into the outfield, as Gonzalez and Brunelle raced home for a 6-3 FSU lead.

Two throwing errors by Lopez - who was making his second start at third base - following infield singles brought an end to Gilmartin's night. Daniel Bennett came on and worked 1.2 innings for his 10th save. He had plenty of cushion to finish the job as the 'Noles scored three times in the top of the ninth on as Gonzalez and Robby Stahl sandwiched RBI singles around Taiwan Easterling's run-scoring sacrifice fly.

"There's no excuse for all of us," Lopez said of the defensive miscues. "The conditions were tough. The field was wet, but we've got to work though it and battle through that and hopefully you don't see that again the rest of the weekend."

Lopez more than made amends at the plate, leading an 11-hit attack as the Seminoles won for the 14th time in their last 16 games.

"It's not bad," said Lopez, who was 3-for-5 with a walk in his second game as the leadoff batter. "I haven't really hit there since high school and maybe a little bit of JUCO. It's different. And it's fun."

McGee and Gonzalez contributed two hits for the Seminoles, who will send junior right-hander Hunter Scantling to the mound on Saturday. NC State will counter with right-hander Cory Mazzoni.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Rafael Lopez            3B        5  2  3   3  1  0  0  0
Sherman Johnson         2B        4  0  0   0  1  0  2  1
Mike McGee              CF        4  1  2   0  1  0  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  1  0   0  0  1  3  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        5  0  1   0  0  1  7  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        5  2  2   1  0  1  2  1
Parker Brunelle         C         3  2  1   0  0  0  9  1
Taiwan Easterling       LF        4  0  0   1  0  0  2  0
Seth Miller             DH        1  1  0   0  1  1  0  0
  Sean O'Brien          PH-DH     2  0  1   1  0  0  0  0
  Robby Stahl           PR-DH     1  0  1   1  0  0  0  0
Sean Gilmartin          P                            0  2
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              38  9 11   7  4  4 27  5
Opp                              36  4  8   3  1 10 27  8

E - Opp-3, FSU-Rafael Lopez 2 (5), Justin Gonzalez 2 (9)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Jayce Boyd (11), Justin Gonzalez (10), Parker Brunelle (7)
HR - FSU-Rafael Lopez 2 (6)
HBP - FSU-Parker Brunelle 2 (3)
SH - FSU-James Ramsey (2)
SF - Opp-1, FSU-Taiwan Easterling (2)
SB - FSU-Mike McGee (6), James Ramsey (9)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Sean Gilmartin       W (9-1)    7.1  7  4  0  0  9
Daniel Bennett       Sv(10)     1.2  1  0  0  1  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  8  4  0  1 10
Opp                  L          9.0 11  9  7  4  4


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
1
2
0
0
0
0
1
2
3
9
11
4
North Carolina State
0
0
0
2
0
0
1
1
0
4
8
3
Attendance: 1,238

Florida State 7, North Carolina State 5
05/15/2011, Raleigh, N.C.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Split At State.

'Noles control own destiny in Atlantic with Clemson coming to town.

RALEIGH, NC - Florida State controls its ACC Atlantic Division destiny with one series to play after splitting a Sunday doubleheader at NC State.

The sixth-ranked Seminoles (39-13, 18-9) will take a three-game lead over Clemson into the final series of the season - a three-game homestand against the Tigers, which begins Thursday at Dick Howser Stadium. A single win over the Tigers will give FSU its fourth divisional title in five years and the No. 2 seed in the ACC Tournament.

The Seminoles had a chance to wrap up the division title after knocking off NC State 7-5 in Sunday's opening, which came shortly before Virginia Tech knocked off Clemson, 3-2. NC State (29-23, 12-15) foiled those plans with a 12-4 win in the series finale.

Despite the series victory over the Wolfpack, FSU will have to wait to record its 40th victory for a 34th consecutive season.

James Ramsey wiped out Florida State's first deficit of the weekend with a three-run homer in the seventh of the opening game. Rafael Lopez's two-out, two-run double in the eighth lifted the Seminoles to victory.

Battling to assure a berth in the ACC Tournament and keep its NCAA postseason hopes alive, the Wolfpack refused to go quietly all weekend.

They wiped out a 2-1 deficit in Sunday's opener with a four-run sixth inning. Tarran Senay's two-out, two-run homer to right put NC State in front for the first time in the series. Chris Diaz's two-run single gave the hosts a 5-2 lead.

Relieving starter Mike McGee, FSU's bullpen trio of Mack Waugh, Brian Busch and Daniel Bennet held the Wolfpack in check from that point, limiting the hosts to six hits over 3.1 scoreless innings.

FSU began its opening game rally when Lopez and Sherman Johnson worked starter Cory Mazzoni for leadoff walks. State reliever D.J. Thomas got McGee to pop out before Ramsey launched his eighth homer of the season over the right field wall to tie the game 5-5.

The Seminoles finished their comeback an inning later when Justin Gonzalez reached on a misplayed infield pop-up, Sean Gilmartin drew a two-out walk and Lopez drove a two-run double into the right-center gap for a 7-5 lead.

Bennett closed down the victory, picking up his 11th save of the season of the season with 1.1 innings of work, capped by a game-ending 1-6-3 double play. It was the third double play of the game for the Seminoles, who were out-hit 12-9 by the Wolfpack.

Lopez, Ramsey and Boyd each collected a pair of hits to lead the Seminoles in the opener.

Second game starter Hunter Scantling failed to get out of the third inning as the Wolfpack began their 15-hit barrage with seven in a row off the big right-hander, forging a 4-0 lead that was never seriously threatened.

The Seminoles halved the deficit in the fourth when Ramsey doubled, Jayce Boyd singled and Gonzalez knocked in a run with a single to left. FSU managed to load the bases with one out, but only got one man home on Gilmartin's sacrifice fly.

State pulled away with a run in the sixth, and three in both the seventh and eighth innings.

Ramsey went 3-for-5 and Gonzalez had two hits and two RBI in the nightcap.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Rafael Lopez            3B        4  1  2   2  1  1  0  1
Sherman Johnson         2B        4  1  0   0  1  0  1  3
Mike McGee              P-DH      5  1  1   0  0  2  0  0
James Ramsey            RF        5  1  2   3  0  1  2  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  1  2   0  1  0  9  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        5  1  1   1  0  1  3  4
Parker Brunelle         C         3  0  0   0  1  1  8  0
Taiwan Easterling       CF        4  0  1   0  0  2  4  0
Seth Miller             LF        3  0  0   0  0  2  0  0
  Sean Gilmartin        PH-LF     0  1  0   0  1  0  0  0
  Mack Waugh            P                            0  0
  Brian Busch           P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  1
                                 ========================
FSU                              37  7  9   6  5 10 27  9
Opp                              37  5 12   5  3  8 27  6

E - Opp-2, FSU-Jayce Boyd (7)
2B - Opp-2, FSU-Rafael Lopez (15)
HR - Opp-1, FSU-James Ramsey (8)
SB - FSU-Jayce Boyd (9), Justin Gonzalez (8)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Mike McGee                      5.2  6  5  4  3  4
Mack Waugh                      0.1  1  0  0  0  1
Brian Busch          W (5-2)    1.2  2  0  0  0  2
Daniel Bennett       Sv(11)     1.1  3  0  0  0  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0 12  5  4  3  8
Opp                  L          9.0  9  7  5  5 10


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
0
1
0
0
0
1
3
2
0
7
9
1
North Carolina State
0
0
0
1
0
4
0
0
0
5
12
2
Attendance: 1,064

North Carolina State 12, Florida State 4
05/15/2011, Raleigh, N.C.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Split At State.

'Noles control own destiny in Atlantic with Clemson coming to town.

RALEIGH, NC - Florida State controls its ACC Atlantic Division destiny with one series to play after splitting a Sunday doubleheader at NC State.

The sixth-ranked Seminoles (39-13, 18-9) will take a three-game lead over Clemson into the final series of the season - a three-game homestand against the Tigers, which begins Thursday at Dick Howser Stadium. A single win over the Tigers will give FSU its fourth divisional title in five years and the No. 2 seed in the ACC Tournament.

The Seminoles had a chance to wrap up the division title after knocking off NC State 7-5 in Sunday's opening, which came shortly before Virginia Tech knocked off Clemson, 3-2. NC State (29-23, 12-15) foiled those plans with a 12-4 win in the series finale.

Despite the series victory over the Wolfpack, FSU will have to wait to record its 40th victory for a 34th consecutive season.

James Ramsey wiped out Florida State's first deficit of the weekend with a three-run homer in the seventh of the opening game. Rafael Lopez's two-out, two-run double in the eighth lifted the Seminoles to victory.

Battling to assure a berth in the ACC Tournament and keep its NCAA postseason hopes alive, the Wolfpack refused to go quietly all weekend.

They wiped out a 2-1 deficit in Sunday's opener with a four-run sixth inning. Tarran Senay's two-out, two-run homer to right put NC State in front for the first time in the series. Chris Diaz's two-run single gave the hosts a 5-2 lead.

Relieving starter Mike McGee, FSU's bullpen trio of Mack Waugh, Brian Busch and Daniel Bennet held the Wolfpack in check from that point, limiting the hosts to six hits over 3.1 scoreless innings.

FSU began its opening game rally when Lopez and Sherman Johnson worked starter Cory Mazzoni for leadoff walks. State reliever D.J. Thomas got McGee to pop out before Ramsey launched his eighth homer of the season over the right field wall to tie the game 5-5.

The Seminoles finished their comeback an inning later when Justin Gonzalez reached on a misplayed infield pop-up, Sean Gilmartin drew a two-out walk and Lopez drove a two-run double into the right-center gap for a 7-5 lead.

Bennett closed down the victory, picking up his 11th save of the season of the season with 1.1 innings of work, capped by a game-ending 1-6-3 double play. It was the third double play of the game for the Seminoles, who were out-hit 12-9 by the Wolfpack.

Lopez, Ramsey and Boyd each collected a pair of hits to lead the Seminoles in the opener.

Second game starter Hunter Scantling failed to get out of the third inning as the Wolfpack began their 15-hit barrage with seven in a row off the big right-hander, forging a 4-0 lead that was never seriously threatened.

The Seminoles halved the deficit in the fourth when Ramsey doubled, Jayce Boyd singled and Gonzalez knocked in a run with a single to left. FSU managed to load the bases with one out, but only got one man home on Gilmartin's sacrifice fly.

State pulled away with a run in the sixth, and three in both the seventh and eighth innings.

Ramsey went 3-for-5 and Gonzalez had two hits and two RBI in the nightcap.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Rafael Lopez            3B-C      5  0  0   0  0  1  1  2
Sherman Johnson         2B        3  0  0   0  1  0  3  0
  Robby Stahl           PH        1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
Mike McGee              CF        2  1  0   0  2  0  1  0
James Ramsey            RF        5  2  3   0  0  1  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        2  1  1   0  2  1 10  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  0  2   2  0  2  1  3
Parker Brunelle         C         3  0  0   0  0  0  7  1
  Sean O'Brien          3B        1  0  0   0  0  1  0  1
Taiwan Easterling       LF        2  0  1   0  0  0  0  0
  Seth Miller           LF        0  0  0   1  0  0  1  0
Sean Gilmartin          DH        3  0  0   1  0  3  0  0
Hunter Scantling        P                            0  0
  Robert Benincasa      P                            0  0
  Adam Simmons          P                            0  1
  Robby Scott           P                            0  0
  Gary Merians          P                            0  1
  David Trexler         P                            0  1
  Tye Buckley           P                            0  0
  Scott Sitz            P                            0  1
                                 ========================
FSU                              31  4  7   4  5 10 24 11
Opp                              34 12 15  12  6  7 27  6

2B - Opp-3, FSU-James Ramsey 2 (17)
HBP - Opp-3, FSU-Mike McGee (5), Taiwan Easterling (5)
SH - Opp-2
SF - FSU-Seth Miller (2), Sean Gilmartin (1)
SB - Opp-1, FSU-Mike McGee (7)
CS - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Hunter Scantling     L (3-1)    2.1  7  4  4  1  3
Robert Benincasa                2.2  3  1  1  0  4
Adam Simmons                    1.0  2  1  0  1  0
Robby Scott                     0.1  0  2  2  0  0
Gary Merians                    0.2  1  1  1  1  0
David Trexler                   0.1  1  2  2  0  0
Tye Buckley                     0.1  1  1  1  3  0
Scott Sitz                      0.1  0  0  0  0  0
                               ===================
FSU                             8.0 15 12 11  6  7
Opp                  W          9.0  7  4  4  5 10


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
2
0
4
7
0
North Carolina State
0
0
4
1
0
1
3
3
x
12
15
0
Attendance: 908

Florida State 8, Clemson 6
05/19/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Tamed For Title.

Gilmartin, Seminole tough out 8-6 win for Atlantic Division title.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Sean Gilmartin knew he was in for a battle Thursday night against Clemson, the ACC's top-hitting offense. Florida State's junior staff ace, however, didn't think he would be putting his season on the line.

That's what nearly happened on the second pitch of the game, when Clemson leadoff batter John Hinson lined a pitch back through the middle which struck Gilmartin flush, two inches below the left collarbone.

Gilmartin had the presence to pick up the ball and retire Hinson at first, before checking to see that his prized left arm and shoulder were still functioning.

The fourth-ranked Seminoles and their ace were functioning efficiently enough to turn back the 12th-ranked Tigers 8-6, before a Dick Howser Stadium crowd of 4,692.

With the win, Florida State (40-13, 19-9 ACC) clinched its fourth Atlantic Division title in six seasons and will defend its 2010 ACC Championship as the No. 2 seed in next week's tournament at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Gilmartin labored after retiring Hinson and Phil Pohl on comebackers in the first, before surrendering a home run to Brad Miller and consecutive singles to Will Lamb and Richie Shaffer. The Tigers' outburst brought FSU coach Mike Martin from the dugout for a rare first inning mound visit.

"I went out there to literally make sure he was OK after the line drive," Martin said. "He's very, very fortunate."

Holding his fingers a couple inches apart, Martin added: "You go this much further, and it's a broken collarbone."

"It got me clean," said Gilmartin. "That was a little scary. ... It took maybe a good 15-20 seconds for everything else to settle in, and then it's, 'Ow!'"

The Seminoles would inflict their own kind of pain on the Tigers in short order.

Leadoff batter Rafael Lopez deposited a Dominic Leone offering over the right field screen to knot the score in the home first. It was Lopez's seventh homer of the season and his fourth in five games, since moving into the leadoff spot for injured Devon Travis.

FSU erupted for three runs in the third, roughing Leone (5-2) for three runs on four hits, highlighted by Justin Gonzalez's two-run single. Two more runs in the fourth on an RBI groundout by Mike McGee and James Ramsey's surprise bunt single pushed the Seminoles to a 6-1 lead.

Gilmartin (10-1) settled in after the rough first inning and would go on to record the victory.

"I just stepped back and said, 'This team is for real. I've got to put the ball where it needs to be. You can't leave balls over the middle of the plate or else they're going to be hit right back at you,'" Gilmartin said. "It kind of woke me up a little bit."

Clemson worked its way back into the game when a two-out catcher's interference call extended the fifth inning. The Tigers tacked on a pair of runs when Pohl lined an RBI single to center, which was misplayed by McGee.

Stuart Tapley, playing at home for the first time since April 24, got the run back in the home half of the inning with a run-scoring groundout to keep the 'Noles in front, 7-3. It proved to be the game-deciding run as the Tigers kept coming.

Shaffer's solo homer in the sixth off Gilmartin, who departed after seven innings, allowed two earned runs to go with six strikeouts and one walk. In the process, he moved into a tie for ninth on the all-time wins list with Jon McDonald (31) and sole possession of 10th place in career strikeouts (304).

"That was a huge part of the win ... that Gilly was able to stay in," Martin said. "Gilly showed what he's all about."

Ramsey's RBI triple in the home sixth marked the third time the Seminoles countered a Clemson run-scoring frame, pushing the lead back to 8-4.

FSU's bullpen didn't escape unscathed again the Clemson bats. The Tigers scored two in eighth off relievers Brian Busch and Daniel Bennett. Chris Epps' RBI single ended Busch's night, but Bennett came on and yielded consecutive singles to Jon McGibbon and Hinson, which made it 8-6.

Clemson loaded the bases when Bennett issued a two-out walk to Pohl, which brought Miller - the ACC's top hitter - to the plate. Bennett used a back door slider on 3-2 pitch to retire Miller on a called third strike.

"It was huge getting out of that bases loaded jam," Bennett said. "It wasn't really a relief. The game's not over. It lit a fire and gave everybody confidence going into the ninth inning."

That confidence came through in the ninth as Bennett retired the Tigers in order for his 12th save in his last 13 appearances.

"I'd be lying to you (saying) I didn't have a little adrenaline going into the ninth, especially with what they did to us last year," Bennett said, referring to last season's series sweep by the Tigers. "It was huge for the team."

And so was Gilmartin's performance.

"Sean's a warrior, especially after that first inning and the hit he took," Bennett said. "Not many people would come back after that. He half-jokingly said, 'That's what rib cages are for.'

"For him to battle through the game after that was amazing."

While the Seminoles have the Atlantic Division in hand, their work is not complete. A series victory over a Clemson team with the No. 9 RPI would seemingly assure FSU a top-eight national seed.

"Getting that win tonight is a big lift for the rest of the weekend," Gilmartin said. "It gives us momentum going into tomorrow night and we've got to keep it going the rest of the weekend."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Rafael Lopez            3B        4  2  1   1  1  1  3  0
Sherman Johnson         2B        4  1  1   0  0  0  2  5
Mike McGee              CF        5  2  2   1  0  2  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  1  2   3  0  0  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        3  0  1   0  1  0 11  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  0  1   2  0  1  1  2
Parker Brunelle         C         4  1  1   0  0  0  8  2
Taiwan Easterling       LF        3  0  0   0  0  3  0  0
Stuart Tapley           DH        2  1  0   1  2  0  0  0
Sean Gilmartin          P                            0  3
  Brian Busch           P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              33  8  9   8  4  7 27 12
Opp                              36  6 10   5  3 10 24  8

E - Opp-3, FSU-Mike McGee (3), Parker Brunelle (4)
3B - FSU-James Ramsey (3)
HR - Opp-2, FSU-Rafael Lopez (7)
HBP - Opp-2
SH - FSU-Sherman Johnson (4), Taiwan Easterling (3)
SB - Opp-1, FSU-James Ramsey (10)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Sean Gilmartin       W (10-1)   7.0  7  4  2  1  6
Brian Busch                     0.2  1  2  2  1  2
Daniel Bennett       Sv(12)     1.1  2  0  0  1  2
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0 10  6  4  3 10
Opp                  L          8.0  9  8  6  4  7


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Clemson
1
0
0
0
2
1
0
2
0
6
10
3
Florida State
1
0
3
2
1
1
0
0
x
8
9
2
Attendance: 4,692

Clemson 7, Florida State 4
05/20/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Comeback Denied.

Seminoles can't finish climb from seven-run deficit against Tigers.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Battling back from a seven-run deficit, Mike Martin's fourth-ranked Florida State baseball team got the tying run to the plate in the ninth against Clemson.

Despite the Seminoles' show of fortitude and resiliency, Clemson made off with a 7-4 victory that will set up Saturday's regular season finale at Dick Howser Stadium with a series and perhaps a top-eight NCAA national seed on the line.

"With the pitching they've got, you've certainly dug yourselves a deep grave," said Martin, whose team trailed 7-0 heading into the home fifth. "You're disappointed, but at the same time you're pleased the way the guys fought back. We had a chance to tie it up in the ninth."

Florida State (40-14, 19-10 ACC) pecked away with a pair of runs in the sixth and eight innings, but came up short when senior Mike McGee flied out to center with two runners on to end the game.

"We showed some fight and we stayed in the game," said McGee, whose solo homer in the eighth - his 10th of the season - helped chip away at the deficit. "That's good to know that we have that in the postseason.

"We get the tying run to the plate and that's all you can ask for."

Clemson (38-17, 16-13) got off to a fast start one night after the Seminoles secured the ACC Atlantic Division title with an 8-6 victory. The Tigers got a solo homer from Chris Epps in the second off FSU starter Robert Benincasa, then stacked on four runs in the third.

The Tigers rapped out five hits in the third, including an RBI tripled that caromed off a fence pole in right center, a single to left that which was misplayed into a run-scoring play and an infield single off Benincasa's glove.

FSU couldn't buy a break early. The 'Noles squandered a pair of one-out hits in the second when Clemson center fielder ran down a Stuart Tapley drive at the wall in dead-center. An inning later, Seth Miller, Rafael Lopez and Sherman Johnson all lined out on well-hit balls into the outfield.

"It was one of those days," McGee said. "That was frustrating, though."

The Tigers tacked on two more in the fifth off Hunter Scantling, who yielded a two-run homer to Will Lamb.

By the time the 'Noles solved Clemson starter Justin Sarratt (7-1) in the home sixth, they were chasing a big lead. They scratched across two runs when Lopez was hit by a pitch, Johnson singled to right and McGee walked. Ramsey went down swinging with the bases loaded before Jayce Boyd's RBI single to left put the 'Noles on the board and ended Sarratt's night.

Clemson reliever Kevin Brady balked home a run, but struck out Justin Gonzalez and Parker Brunelle to deny the 'Noles a potentially big inning.

FSU relievers Tyler Everett, Robby Scott, Tye Buckley, Adam Simmons and Scott Sitz combined for 4.2 innings of three-hit shutout relief to keep the home team in the game.

McGee's homer in the eighth and Boyd's RBI cut Clemson's lead to 7-4.

"That's something we take pride in ... getting it done, even when we're down, because a good team battles," said Boyd, who was 3-for-5 with two RBI. "That's what we did. We had a chance to come back in this game and it just didn't happen for us."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Rafael Lopez            3B        3  1  0   0  1  1  0  2
Sherman Johnson         2B        5  1  1   0  0  2  0  4
Mike McGee              CF        4  1  2   1  1  1  4  0
James Ramsey            RF        3  1  0   0  1  1  3  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  0  3   2  0  0 10  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  0  1   0  0  2  2  3
Parker Brunelle         C         3  0  0   0  1  2  7  1
Stuart Tapley           DH        4  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Seth Miller             LF        3  0  0   0  0  2  1  0
  Devon Travis          PH        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Taiwan Easterling     PR        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Robert Benincasa        P                            0  2
  Hunter Scantling      P                            0  0
  Tyler Everett         P                            0  0
  Robby Scott           P                            0  0
  Tye Buckley           P                            0  1
  Adam Simmons          P                            0  0
  Scott Sitz            P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              33  4  7   3  4 11 27 13
Opp                              37  7 13   6  8  5 27  2

E - FSU-Justin Gonzalez (10), Seth Miller (1)
2B - Opp-2, FSU-Jayce Boyd (12)
3B - Opp-1
HR - Opp-2, FSU-Mike McGee (10)
HBP - FSU-Rafael Lopez (5), Devon Travis (8)
SF - Opp-1
SB - Opp-2
CS - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Robert Benincasa     L (2-1)    2.2  7  5  5  1  1
Hunter Scantling                1.2  3  2  2  2  2
Tyler Everett                   1.2  2  0  0  2  1
Robby Scott                     1.0  0  0  0  1  0
Tye Buckley                     1.0  0  0  0  0  0
Adam Simmons                    0.0  1  0  0  1  0
Scott Sitz                      1.0  0  0  0  1  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0 13  7  7  8  5
Opp                  W-Sv       9.0  7  4  4  4 11


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Clemson
0
1
4
0
2
0
0
0
0
7
13
0
Florida State
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
0
4
7
2
Attendance: 4,973

Clemson 8, Florida State 5
05/21/2011, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Senior Day Spoiled.

Clemson comes up with the final answer in 8-5 win over 'Noles on Senior Day.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - After clinching the Atlantic Division title with Thursday night's victory, Florida State simply couldn't get in the last word against Clemson in the final two games of the series.

For the second consecutive game the fourth-ranked Seminoles spotted the 12th-ranked Tigers a big early lead, battled back into to contention, but could not come up with a definitive, final answer.

John Hinson belted a one-out, solo home run in the ninth as Clemson scored twice to break open a one-run game and escape with a series-clinching 8-5 victory.

"We have to be very careful as a program and team not to lower our heads," Martin said. "We lost a very tough series, but we won the division, so we can't lower our heads and feel anyway but, 'Hey, they [Clemson] won a series.'"

Celebrating Senior Day in the regular season home finale, the Seminoles (40-15, 19-11 ACC) hoped to honor their 10 out-going players with a series victory that would seemingly clinch a top-eight NCAA national seed. While the pregame ceremonies came off without a hitch, senior starter Mike McGee was roughed up for five runs in 3.1 innings and pulled from the game shortly after FSU coach Mike Martin was ejected by home plate umpire Barry Chambers.

The Tigers opened up a 5-0 lead with a four-run fourth, sparked by Richie Shaffer's solo homer. McGee issued a pair of walks before Spencer Kieboom singled to center, scoring two runs when Taiwan Easterling misplayed the ball. Hinson's sacrifice fly gave the Tigers their largest lead.

As they did a night earlier, when rallying from a 7-0 deficit, the Seminoles responded in the home fourth. James Ramsey followed a Rafael Lopez single and a McGee walk with a scalded line drive, three-run homer to center field. Ramsey's ninth homer of the season pushed his team-leading RBI total to 57 and provided the 'Noles with new life.

Brian Busch, who relieved McGee in the fourth, kept the Seminoles in the game with 4.2 innings of three-hit, one-run baseball. It was his longest outing since working five innings as a starter at Georgia on March 5.

"He was light's out," Martin said of Busch.

Busch's lone blemish came in the fifth when the Tigers (39-17, 17-13) got one of those runs back on Jeff Schaus' RBI single, good for a 6-3 lead.

"I don't even know if I've gone five innings once this year; maybe back in my second start," Busch said. "The way I prepare I still act like I'm a starter, so when I do come in and I can pitch for long periods of the game."

It took a few innings, but the 'Noles came through with a counter-punch in the eighth as red-hot Jayce Boyd launched his fifth homer of the season to left and Sherman Johnson followed with his second double of the game. Senior Stuart Tapley's RBI pulled FSU within 6-5.

Florida State's momentum, however, was fleeting. Closer Daniel Bennett got a quick out before Hinson sent his 1-1 offering over the right field screen. Two singles and an errant throw on would-be, inning-ending double play brought home a second insurance run.

Clemson closer Scott Weismann worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his sixth save.

"They really can hit, so to say we got them where we wanted them, for them to come back and put two on the board that's something we usually do," said Ramsey. "We're going to see them, NC State and Georgia Tech in the tournament and we're really excited about that. We're going to get right back at them."

Lopez, Boyd and Ramsey had two hits each for the 'Noles, who were out-hit for a third consecutive game (9-8) by the ACC's top hitting team.

With their five-series winning streak over, Martin's club must turn its attention to the ACC Tournament, which begins Wednesday at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The defending tournament champions, FSU will try and bolster its postseason resume as the No. 2 seed.

"We hope we don't get pushed to the background because of losing two-out-of-three against a very good Clemson team that has won 25 of their last 30 games against very good competition," Martin said. "We haven't played a better baseball team than Clemson. That was a good looking club."

It won't be an easy road for the Seminoles, who will face NC State, Clemson and Georgia Tech in their half of the round-robin bracket.

"Our job now is to throw this series away and be ready to play when we go and play ... NC State," Martin said.

Coastal Division champion and No. 1 seed Virginia will be joined by North Carolina, Miami and Wake Forest in the opposite bracket.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        3  0  0   0  1  2  2  5
Rafael Lopez            C         5  1  2   0  0  0  4  0
Mike McGee              P-DH      3  1  0   0  2  1  0  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  1  1   3  0  1  3  1
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  1  2   1  0  1 10  1
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  1  2   0  0  0  0  4
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  0  0   0  0  1  2  1
Stuart Tapley           LF        4  0  1   1  0  1  2  0
Taiwan Easterling       CF        3  0  0   0  1  0  4  0
  Brian Busch           P                            0  1
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              33  5  8   5  4  7 27 13
Opp                              32  8  9   7  8  4 27 10

E - FSU-Devon Travis (14), Taiwan Easterling (1)
2B - FSU-Sherman Johnson 2 (17)
HR - Opp-2, FSU-James Ramsey (9), Jayce Boyd (5)
HBP - FSU-Devon Travis (9)
SH - FSU-Justin Gonzalez (2)
SF - Opp-2
SB - Opp-1
CS - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Mike McGee           L (2-3)    3.1  2  5  4  6  2
Brian Busch                     4.2  3  1  1  1  1
Daniel Bennett                  1.0  4  2  2  1  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  9  8  7  8  4
Opp                  W-Sv       9.0  8  5  5  4  7


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Clemson
0
1
0
4
1
0
0
0
2
8
9
0
Florida State
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
2
0
5
8
2
Attendance: 4,761

North Carolina State 7, Florida State 0
05/25/2011, ACC, Durham, N.C.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Wrong State.

NC State rode red-hot pitching past Florida State in ACC Tourney opener.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

DURHAM, N.C. - Florida State came into Wednesday night's Atlantic Coast Conference tournament opener against NC State anxious to make a strong case for a top-eight national seed in the coming NCAA postseason.

The Seminoles, left Durham Bulls Athletic Park with a lot to prove over the next two days.

NC State junior right-hander Cory Mazzoni mowed through the FSU lineup with ease as the Wolfpack ran off with a 7-0 victory.

"It was an old fashioned fanny whipping," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "Give all the credit to North Carolina State and certainly Cory Mazzoni. That was a beautifully pitched baseball game. Not only did he dominate us with the fastball he really showed his ability to throw the breaking ball for strikes. ...

"We never threw it in tonight. We were just told by Mr. Mazzoni, 'You ain't getting anything, boys.'"

Florida State (40-16) managed just four hits off Mazzoni, and didn't get a runner to third base until the seventh inning.

NC State (34-23) broke open a one-run game with a three-run fifth, aided by a two-out walk and the Seminoles' second outfield error of the game. The 4-0 cushion was more than enough for Mazzoni, who entered the game with 116 strikeouts - second-most in the ACC - and went right to work padding that total. He fanned five through the first three innings, and finished with nine over seven innings while issuing just one walk.

The Seminoles failed to capitalize on their fewest hits since managing a season-low three at Maryland on April 2. FSU wasted a leadoff single in the first by Devon Travis and doubles by Jayce Boyd and Rafael Lopez in the second and third. Mazzoni settled in and retired the next 10 FSU batters in order. "They just played well in all facets of the game," said Ramsey, who was denied at least a leadoff double in the fourth by NC State center fielder Brett Williams' diving catch at the warning track.

"They did everything they took to get it done," Martin added. "The play that Williams made in center field was as good as it gets."

The Wolfpack struck first for a run in the top of the third. Williams singled through the middle off FSU starter Benincasa (2-2), then advanced on a wild pitch. Pratt Maynard followed with a line drive at Ramsey in right, who dropped the ball when he looked up to see whether Williams had strayed from the bag. Maynard moved up to third on the miscue and scored on Harold Riggins' sacrifice fly to center.

It would be all the runs the Wolfpack would need to even the season series at two games each.

Six Florida State pitchers combined to scatter 10 hits, walk seven and hit three NC State batters.

"I think it was just one of those situations where everything just happened to multiply," Martin said. "Walking seven is very uncharacteristic. ... We hit three, so that's definitely uncharacteristic."

A year ago in Greensboro, N.C., FSU lost the opening game of the tournament and came all the way back to win the title. In order to duplicate that feat, the Seminoles will have to beat one of the nation's hottest teams.

FSU meets Clemson, which has won 26 of its last 31 games - including a pair last week in Tallahassee - after white-washing Georgia Tech 9-0 earlier in the day.

"Our baseball team is very competitive," Martin said. "This game, if you let it, will drive you bonkers. You have to be mentally tough and our young men are mentally tough. We'll get our rest, we'll play the hottest team in the country tomorrow and we will look forward to competition. That's the way this club is."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  0  1   0  0  0  4  3
Rafael Lopez            C         3  0  1   0  1  0  8  1
Mike McGee              CF        4  0  0   0  0  3  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  0  1   0  0  1  2  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        3  0  1   0  1  0  9  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  0  0   0  0  2  1  3
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  0  0   0  0  3  0  1
Stuart Tapley           LF        3  0  0   0  0  2  0  0
Seth Miller             DH        2  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Sean O'Brien          PH        1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Robert Benincasa        P                            0  0
  Mack Waugh            P                            0  0
  Gary Merians          P                            0  2
  Tyler Everett         P                            0  0
  Tye Buckley           P                            0  0
  Scott Sitz            P                            1  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              31  0  4   0  2 11 27 10
Opp                              33  7 10   6  7  8 27  8

E - FSU-Mike McGee (4), James Ramsey (1)
2B - Opp-3, FSU-Rafael Lopez (16), Jayce Boyd (13)
HR - Opp-1
HBP - Opp-3
SH - Opp-1
SF - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Robert Benincasa     L (2-2)    3.1  3  1  0  3  1
Mack Waugh                      1.1  2  3  2  1  1
Gary Merians                    2.1  2  2  2  2  2
Tyler Everett                   0.1  2  1  1  0  1
Tye Buckley                     0.1  0  0  0  0  1
Scott Sitz                      1.1  1  0  0  1  2
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0 10  7  5  7  8
Opp                  W          9.0  4  0  0  2 11


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
North Carolina State
0
0
1
0
3
0
2
1
0
7
10
0
Florida State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
2
Attendance: 3,947

Florida State 6, Clemson 3
05/26/2011, ACC, Durham, N.C.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Timely Taming.

Gilmartin, Ramsey help 'Noles halt three-game skid against Tigers, 6-3.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

DURHAM, NC - Florida State junior roommate Sean Gilmartin and James Ramsey have had a hand in a number of Seminole victories this season, but none of were any bigger than Thursday's 6-3 ACC Tournament win over Clemson.

Gilmartin kept the hot-hitting Tigers off-stride through six innings and Ramsey drove in four runs, including an opposite field, two-run homer over the Durham Bulls Athletic Park's "Blue Monster" which gave the Seminoles all the runs they would need.

In addition to snapping a three-game losing streak, the Seminoles (41-16) stayed alive in their bid to successfully defend their 2010 ACC title. Equally important, they evened the season series against Clemson, which came into the ACC Tournament ranked No. 9 in the latest NCAA RPI.

It was a win the 'Noles needed desperately after opening the tournament with a 7-0 loss to NC State.

"Every game at this point in the season is important," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "A lot of questions still [need] to be answered in the minds of the [NCAA] committee members. Certainly, this was one of those days that things went our way."

FSU could bolster its case for a top-eight NCAA national seed with a win over Georgia Tech on Friday (3 p.m.), which is ranked No. 7 in the latest RPI. A win would also go a long way toward getting the Seminoles into Sunday's championship game.

None of that would have been possible had the Seminoles not solved Clemson starter Justin Sarratt Thursday, before a crowd of 2,416.

Gilmartin limited the ACC's top hitting team to seven hits and three earned runs through six innings, improving to 11-1 on the season. The junior left-hander struck out three and issued two walks, but allowed only a pair of hard-hit balls by Clemson batters. It was his second win over the Tigers in eight days.

"Clemson is a very good hitting ball club," said Gilmartin. "They have shown the last two times that we have played them why they are the leading team in the ACC hitting-wise. I was talking to some of the guys on the bench after I was done and I don't think I've seen a team that was on everything I was throwing, whether it was a ball or strike. They are very aggressive within the strike zone, they see the ball extremely well and they don't make many mistakes."

Neither did Gilmartin, who surrendered a well-hit, RBI single to ACC Player of the Year Brad Miller in the first and an ground rule RBI double to Chris Epps in the sixth.

Martin described Gilmartin's effort as "beautiful baseball."

Florida State's offensive attack was quite attractive in its own right. The Seminoles unleashed a 13-hit attack - their best output in 10 games - and repeatedly came through in the clutch.

Devon Travis (2-for-5) singled off Sarratt to start the game, advanced on a walk and a sacrifice bunt, then scored on Ramsey's sacrifice fly to center for a 1-0 lead. The 'Noles broke the 1-1 deadlock in the fourth when Jayce Boyd laced a one-out single to right, advanced on Sarratt's walk of Justin Gonzalez and scored on senior Stuart Tapley's single to left.

The Tigers got runners to second in the second and fourth innings but could never break through against Gilmartin, who was at his best in the fifth with the Tigers threatening. Spencer Kieboom lofted a double into the left field gap but was stranded at third when Travis went behind the bag at second to pick a Phil Pohl grounder and fired across the diamond for the second out. Gilmartin then struck out Miller, the ACC's leading hitter, to end the threat.

"Obviously a couple of breaks didn't go our way, but we always play close games with them (Florida State)," Miller said. "All four games this year have been good battles, and it's just one of those things where you have to capitalize when you can, and I don't think we did that. They took the momentum from us a couple different times, and that's tough when you're playing them, not to capitalize on all of your opportunities."

FSU carried that defensive momentum to the plate in the top of the sixth as Mike McGee (2-for-3) led off with a double before Ramsey drove a misplaced Sarratt fastball over the left field wall for a 4-1 lead. The blast knocked Sarratt (7-2) from the game.

"I think almost every time we had runners in scoring position we cashed it in," Ramsey said.

Clemson didn't go quietly, touching Gilmartin for two runs in the sixth on Epps' ground-rule double that bounced over the center field wall and Jason Stolz' sacrifice fly.

The Seminoles retaliated with two in the seventh, with Parker Brunelle leading off with a rare triple to left-center. With the infield drawn in and one out, Rafael Lopez knocked a ball through the right side for an RBI single and a 5-3 lead. McGee followed with a bad-hop single, setting up Ramsey for his second run-scoring sacrifice fly of the night and the final margin.

With Gilmartin's day done, FSU turned to the bullpen tandem of Brian Busch and Daniel Bennett to close things out. Busch needed just 18 pitches to get through the seventh and eighth innings unscathed, thanks to the Seminoles' fourth and fifth double plays of the tournament. Bennett worked a one-hit ninth for his 13th save of the season.

"It was a ballgame where we got contributions from others like [Brian] Busch and [Daniel] Bennett," Martin said. "It was a well-played game on both sides and it was just one of those days that things went our way."

Noteworthy: Gilmartin recorded his 32nd career victory, which ties him with Bryan Henry for eighth on Florida State's all-time wins list...Ramsey's four RBI game marked the third time in four games in a week against Clemson that he has driven in at least three runs. The junior now leads the team with 17 multi-hit games....Ramsey's two-run homer in the sixth extended his streak of reaching base to 47 consecutive games...Jayce Boyd's single in the fourth extended his ACC-leading hitting streak to 14 games. It is the second-longest hitting streak by a Seminole this season, trailing Ramsey's 24...With two hits each, Devon Travis, Mike McGee and Ramsey recorded their 22nd multi-hit games of the season, good for a share of the team lead...For the first time in five games the Seminoles played error-free defense, clearly benefitting from Travis' return to the lineup after suffering an ankle sprain on May 10.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        5  1  2   0  0  1  1  5
Rafael Lopez            C         4  1  1   1  1  0  5  1
Mike McGee              CF        3  1  2   0  1  0  3  0
James Ramsey            RF        3  1  2   4  0  0  3  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        5  1  1   0  0  0  8  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        3  0  1   0  1  0  1  1
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  0  1   0  1  0  5  2
Stuart Tapley           LF        4  0  2   1  0  0  1  0
Parker Brunelle         DH        2  0  1   0  0  0  0  0
  Taiwan Easterling     PR        0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Seth Miller           PH        1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
Sean Gilmartin          P                            0  0
  Brian Busch           P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              33  6 13   6  4  2 27  9
Opp                              34  3 10   3  3  3 27 12

2B - Opp-3, FSU-Mike McGee (13)
3B - FSU-Parker Brunelle (1)
HR - FSU-James Ramsey (10)
HBP - FSU-Parker Brunelle (4)
SH - FSU-Mike McGee (1)
SF - Opp-1, FSU-James Ramsey 2 (5)
SB - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Sean Gilmartin       W (11-1)   6.0  7  3  3  2  3
Brian Busch                     2.0  2  0  0  0  0
Daniel Bennett       Sv(13)     1.0  1  0  0  1  0
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0 10  3  3  3  3
Opp                  L          9.0 13  6  6  4  2


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
1
0
0
1
0
2
2
0
0
6
13
0
Clemson
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
3
10
0
Attendance: 2,416

Florida State 4, Georgia Tech 2
05/28/2011, ACC, Durham, N.C.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Making Their Case.

Seminoles bolster NCAA resume with 4-2 victory over Georgia Tech.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

DURHAM, NC - A fast start and stellar pitching delivered Florida State a 4-2 ACC Tournament victory over Georgia Tech Sunday morning at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Whether the early-morning conquest of the Yellow Jackets delivers the defending ACC champion Seminoles a third consecutive trip to the title game is unclear. That's out of Florida State's hands. Mike Martin's club walked off the field with a significant victory in pursuit of a top-eight NCAA national seed, but needed a Clemson win over NC State in the second game of the day to get back to the championship.

"I said last night about how important every game is this time of the year," said Martin. "This one had a little extra implication because both clubs are vying for a top-eight seed. I thought our young men really played exceptionally."

The Seminoles (42-16) were especially stout on the mound, where Mike McGee (3-3) delivered 5.1 innings of two-hit, shutout work. The senior earned his 20th career victory when his teammates jumped on Georgia Tech starter Buck Farmer (10-3) for three runs in the third and a big insurance run in the fourth.

In a battle of Top 10 NCAA RPI teams, the No. 4 Seminoles scored an important, resume-building victory over the No. 7 Yellow Jackets. FSU improved its record against Top 10 RPI competition to 8-7, which included a 6-3 tournament win over No. 9 Clemson on Thursday.

FSU relievers Brian Busch and Daniel made the 4-0 cushion stand up. Busch worked out of sixth-inning jam, getting Daniel Palka to ground into an inning-ending double play in the sixth after entering with the bases loaded. The Yellow Jackets (40-19) did touch Busch for a pair of runs in the seventh, but Bennett came on with one out in the eighth and locked down his 14th save of the season.

Bennett's save had a little drama after Jackets Brandon Thomas and Zane Evans doubled and singled to open the ninth. Pinch-runner Connor Winn replaced Evans and was immediately picked off Bennett.

"It is something we practice every day during the pitcher drills," said Bennett. "With a new guy coming into the game, I felt like he's not really looking for it. ... If we get him, we get him. If not, we go after the batter."

Bennett he followed the pickoff by striking out Kyle Wren, then got Jacob Esch to pop to first for the final out.

"I didn't even know it was coming," FSU catcher Rafael Lopez said of Bennett's pickoff. "I thought he was going to throw to third. I love it and it usually gets us out of a jam."

Lopez factored in both run-scoring innings for the Seminoles, singling to lead off the third and doubling with one out in the fourth. In each instance, FSU capitalized, which proved fortuitous, since the Jackets held the 'Noles hitless after the fourth.

Lopez and McGee laced back-to-back singles to start the third and Jayce Boyd's one-out, infield single loaded the bases. Sherman Johnson worked Farmer for a run-scoring walk and Justin Gonzalez's sacrifice fly to center gave the Seminoles a 2-0 lead. Farmer compounded his troubles with an errant throw on a pickoff attempt at second allowed Boyd to race home for what proved to be the game-winning run.

"I thought we were very sloppy," Georgia Tech coach Danny Hall said. "We got off to a slow start and did some uncharacteristic things. Buck probably started a little slow, but I thought he finished the game really well. We didn't swing the bats at all early, and in my mind, that kind of gave them some easy outs."

Lopez's one-out double to center in the fourth paid off when Georgia Tech second baseman was late on his throw to first after corralling James Ramsey's bounding ball up the middle. Ramsey padded his team-leading RBI total to 62 for a 4-0 lead.

While the timely offensive production was critical, so was McGee's performance on the mound. He held the Jackets hitless through 4.2 innings before Thomas lined an infield single off his glove and narrowly beat Gonzalez's throw across the diamond after a diving stop. An Esch single with one out in the sixth and consecutive walks to load the bases ended his day.

"I just got tired at the end there," said McGee. "I ran out of gas, but I felt good for the most part. I was hitting my spots well. I was actually able to throw some change-ups and get outs with change-ups, which has been big for me this year. It seems like when I am able to do that I have a decent outing. I feel pretty good about it."

So did Martin.

"Michael went out there, gave us five strong innings, and really gave us a lift," Martin said.

It was all the boost the Seminoles could hope for, whether or not they reach the championship game. With a pair of wins worthy of the NCAA Baseball committee's attention, FSU has made its case for inclusion in the top eight.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        3  0  0   0  2  0  1  1
Rafael Lopez            C         5  2  2   0  0  2  6  1
Mike McGee              P-DH      3  1  1   0  1  1  0  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  0  1   1  0  0  3  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        3  1  1   0  1  1  9  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        2  0  0   1  2  1  1  1
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  0  0   1  0  1  2  2
Stuart Tapley           LF        3  0  1   0  1  1  2  0
Taiwan Easterling       CF        4  0  1   0  0  1  3  1
  Brian Busch           P                            0  1
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  1
                                 ========================
FSU                              30  4  7   3  7  8 27  8
Opp                              30  2  7   2  6  6 24  7

E - Opp-2, FSU-Rafael Lopez (6), Jayce Boyd (8)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Rafael Lopez (17)
SH - Opp-1
SF - FSU-Justin Gonzalez (2)
SB - FSU-James Ramsey (11)
CS - FSU-Mike McGee (3)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Mike McGee           W (3-3)    5.1  2  0  0  5  3
Brian Busch                     2.0  3  2  2  1  1
Daniel Bennett       Sv(14)     1.2  2  0  0  0  2
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  7  2  2  6  6
Opp                  L          8.0  7  4  3  7  8


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Georgia Tech
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
2
7
2
Florida State
0
0
3
1
0
0
0
0
x
4
7
2
Attendance: 2,196

Virginia 7, Florida State 2
05/29/2011, ACC Championship, Durham, N.C.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Undone in Durham.

Seminoles fall to Virginia in ACC Championship game.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

DURHAM, N.C. - The cruel reality of baseball is that the math doesn't always add up.

That was certainly the case for Florida State Sunday afternoon when Virginia used a 7-2 victory to win its third Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championship at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

"It's the most unpredictable sport that's ever been created," FSU coach Mike Martin said afterward. "Don't look at these numbers. We didn't make an error, we out-hit them, the walks were similar and we lost. So what was the key? They (Virginia) got it done."

The Cavaliers (49-19) method of victory was as improbable as the statistical disparity between the teams. Virginia matched a season-high with three home runs, including tournament MVP Steven Proscia's go-ahead, three-run shot in the sixth inning which unlocked a 2-2 tie. Proscia golfed FSU starter Hunter Scantling's 1-1 slider over the DBAP's Blue Monster, which brought an end to the junior right-hander's otherwise outstanding performance. Making his first start since May 15, Scantling (3-2) delivered 5.2 innings of five-hit work, striking out three without yielding a walk in 59 pitches, 45 of which were strikes. Scantling more than held his own in a head-to-head match-up with ACC Pitcher of the Year Danny Hultzen (10-3).

"Can you believe Hunter Scantling did not throw 60 pitches in almost six innings of work?" Martin said. "He had thrown eight balls after four innings. ... That's phenomenal."

On a day when the Seminoles (42-17) learned that they would host an NCAA Regional, they out-hit the Cavaliers 8-6 and were error-free in the field for the second time in four tournament games. FSU even got off to a quick start when Devon Travis lined Hultzen's first pitch of the game off the left field wall and scored on Mike McGee's RBI grounder to third.

The 1-0 lead was short-lived. Virginia's John Hicks deposited Scantling's misplaced slider over the left field wall in the home first for a 2-1 lead. Scantling, however, quickly settled down.

"You just have to make your pitches," Scantling said. "I just threw one bad pitch. I just wanted to get out there, eat up innings, and get the team back in the dugout. After the first inning, I knew that I had to step my game up and make better pitches, and I feel like I was able to bear down and do that."

After yielding a second-inning single to David Coleman, Scantling retired 12 consecutive Cavaliers.

With Scantling cruising the Seminoles kept the pressure Hultzen, getting baserunners aboard in four of the next five innings. Three times the Cavaliers escaped unscathed but Justin Gonzalez's two-out, solo home run in the top of the sixth - his seventh of the season - tied the game.

"I thought when Gonzalez hit the home run to tie the game up that that would give us the lift that we needed, but they answered back with three on a big home run," Martin said. "It's just one of those situations that we were beaten by a club that got it done, plain and simple. They outplayed us today and they deserved to win."

Virginia solved Scantling in the sixth after he hit John Barr with a two-out pitch. Hick s followed with a sharp single to right before Steven Proscia unloaded a three-run homer over the wall in left for a 5-2 lead.

"I was a pitch away from getting out it," Scantling said of the down-and-away slider. "I don't know how he hit it."

The Seminoles never did counter, thanks in part to Chris Taylor's two-run shot in the seventh off reliever Scott Sitz, which came after the 'Noles stranded two more baserunners in the top of the inning. In all, FSU stranded 10 baserunners. Virginia left just one aboard.

"It was definitely frustrating," said Travis, who had two hits. "I thought we did a great job at the plate against arguably the best pitcher in college baseball. I think that as a team we definitely can't hang our head. We didn't get the hits when we needed them, and Virginia did. That's why they won the game."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        5  1  2   0  0  0  1  3
Rafael Lopez            C         4  0  1   0  0  1  5  1
Mike McGee              CF        5  0  1   1  0  1  0  0
James Ramsey            RF        3  0  1   0  1  1  4  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        3  0  0   0  1  1 11  1
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  0  0   0  0  0  0  4
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  1  2   1  0  1  0  2
Stuart Tapley           LF        1  0  0   0  0  0  1  0
  Scott Sitz            P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Parker Brunelle       PH        1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Gary Merians          P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Robby Scott           P         0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Taiwan Easterling       DH-LF     4  0  1   0  0  0  1  0
Hunter Scantling        P         2  0  0   0  0  2  1  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              36  2  8   2  2  7 24 11
Opp                              28  7  6   7  2  5 27  7

E - Opp-2
2B - FSU-Devon Travis (22)
HR - Opp-3, FSU-Justin Gonzalez (7)
HBP - Opp-1, FSU-Rafael Lopez (6)
SH - Opp-1
CS - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Hunter Scantling     L (3-2)    5.2  5  5  5  0  3
Scott Sitz                      1.1  1  2  2  2  1
Gary Merians                    0.2  0  0  0  0  1
Robby Scott                     0.1  0  0  0  0  0
                               ===================
FSU                             8.0  6  7  7  2  5
Opp                  W          9.0  8  2  2  2  7


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
8
0
Virginia
2
0
0
0
0
3
2
0
x
7
6
2
Attendance: 5,834

Florida State 6, Bethune-Cookman 5
06/03/2011, NCAA, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Late Delivery.

McGee singles home winning run in eight, while Busch, Bennett close door in regional victory.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida State slugger Mike McGee's eighth-inning battle against Bethune-Cookman closer Jordan Dailey in Friday's NCAA Tallahassee Regional did not begin well.

With runners at first and third in a tie game, McGee quickly fell behind 0-2 after chasing a high strike.

"I kind of had to refocus and make sure I put bat on the ball," McGee said.

McGee's patience and persistence paid off; working the count full before lofting a soft single to left, which drove home pinch-runner Taiwan Easterling with the game-winning run in a 6-5 victory.

"It entered my mind to squeeze," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "It didn't stay very long. Michael has been to two College World Series and he's played in four regionals. I had all the confidence in the world at that moment with Michael at the plate. ... The guys is who you want at the plate in that situation."

It was McGee's 239th career RBI, which ranks second nationally among active players and sixth on FSU's career list.

Florida State (43-17) came into the regional as the No. 5 national seed but had its hands full with a Bethune-Cookman club that belted four homers, including a pair by Ryan Durrence. Ironically, it was FSU's pitching that turned the tide.

FSU left-hander Brian Busch (6-2) came on for Mack Waugh and registered his first of four strikeouts to get out of sixth-inning mess after the Wildcats (36-24) had tied the game 5-5 on solo homers by Peter O'Brien and Durrence. The Seminoles' left-hander retired all seven batters he faced before turning the ball over to closer Daniel Bennett in ninth.

In his 37th appearance of the season, Bennett registered his 15th save of the season - the second-best mark in school history - striking out the final two batters.

"Brian did a great job, like he always does out of the pen," said FSU senior catcher Rafael Lopez. "He was on. He located his fastball. ... He did a great job."

B-CU coach Mervyl Melendez concurred.

"To be honest with you, I think he was the difference in the ballgame," Melendez said. "When you have an offense that I guess kept coming back like we did ... you know stopping our momentum was what he did. He's a little tough to hit."

FSU starter Hunter Scantling was chased in the fifth when the Wildcats used a two-run homer by DJ Leonard to take a 3-1 lead. Scantling also surrendered a solo shot to shot Durrence in the second, but was largely effective, matching a career high with seven strikeouts while scattering seven hits.

Four Seminole pitchers combined to register 13 strikeouts, but did not issue a walk for the seventh time this season.

"I was just trying to come in and get that one guy to switch the momentum back over to our side," said Busch, who relieved Waugh to face pinch-hitter Josh Johnson. "It seemed like it took a little while to score some runs, but our guys came through like they always do."

The Seminoles broke through in the eighth when pinch-hitter Sean O'Brien singled through the left side of the infield off B-CU's Roman Lancara. Lopez, who led FSU's 13-hit attack with a 3-for-5 day at the plate, followed with a one-out single to right. The Wildcats countered with Dailey to face McGee, who won the extended at-bat to give the `Noles a 6-5 lead.

"It was a battle," Martin said. "You are behind a couple and you go up a couple and they tie it up. .... We just kept plugging away and I'm just very pleased with the way our young men hung in there."

Florida State wiped out a 1-0 deficit with a run in the home fourth when Jayce Boyd doubled and Johnson singled to right. B-CU's Matt Wright misplayed the ball, allowing Boyd to race home. The Wildcats countered with the two runs in the fifth on Leonard's homer before the `Noles put together a four-run home half.

Singles by Lopez, James Ramsey and Boyd off B-CU starter Scott Garner loaded the bases for Johnson, whose two-run single to left tied the game at 3-3. Parker Brunelle's two-run, two-out single to left gave FSU its first lead, 5-3.

The Seminoles will meet Alabama, a 5-3 winner over UCF in the opening game, Saturday at 6 p.m. It will be the first meeting between the schools since 1991, when FSU defeated the Crimson Tide in a regional match-up in Tallahassee.

All-American left-hander Sean Gilmartin (11-1) will get the ball for the Seminoles and face Crimson Tide left-hander Adam Morgan (5-6) in a game that will be televised by SunSports and also streamed live at NCAA.com.

Notes: With the victory, FSU extended its streak of consecutive NCAA Regional victories to 11, dating to an opening loss to Bucknell in the 2008 Tallahassee Regional...James Ramsey extended his streak of reaching base to 49 games with a fifth inning single. Ramsey has now reached safely in 59 of 60 games this season...Rafael Lopez and Ramsey each extended their hitting streaks to 6 games...FSU starter Hunter Scantling matched his career high with 7 strikeouts; has 10 strikeouts and 0 walks in last two starts...Scantling and relievers Brian Busch and Daniel Bennett combined for 13 strikeouts; the most by the `Noles since fanning 13 against UCF on (5/6)...FSU pitchers did not allow issue a walk, marking the 7th time that has occurred this season...Bennett registered his 15th save of the season in his 37th appearance. The 15 saves ties for the second best single-season mark for the Seminoles (Tyler Chambliss, 2005)...Busch (6-2) picks up the victory with 2.1 innings of hitless, shutout work...the 4 home runs surrendered by the `Noles were a season-high....The Seminoles will meet Alabama for the first time since May 26, 1991, which also came in a Tallahassee Regional.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        5  0  1   0  0  0  2  3
Rafael Lopez            C         5  1  3   0  0  2 12  1
Mike McGee              CF        4  0  1   1  1  0  0  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  1  1   0  1  0  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        5  2  2   0  0  1 10  1
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  1  2   2  0  0  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  0  0   0  1  2  0  4
Stuart Tapley           LF        3  0  1   0  1  1  2  0
Parker Brunelle         DH        2  0  1   2  0  0  0  0
  Sean O'Brien          PH        1  0  1   0  0  0  0  0
  Taiwan Easterling     PR        0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0
Hunter Scantling        P                            1  1
  Mack Waugh            P                            0  0
  Brian Busch           P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  1
                                 ========================
FSU                              36  6 13   5  4  6 27 11
Opp                              35  5 10   5  0 13 24  8

E - Opp-1, FSU-Justin Gonzalez (11)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Rafael Lopez (18), Jayce Boyd (14)
HR - Opp-4
HBP - FSU-Parker Brunelle (5)
SH - Opp-1
SB - FSU-Sherman Johnson (10)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Hunter Scantling                4.1  7  3  3  0  7
Mack Waugh                      1.1  3  2  2  0  0
Brian Busch          W (6-2)    2.1  0  0  0  0  4
Daniel Bennett       Sv(15)     1.0  0  0  0  0  2
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0 10  5  5  0 13
Opp                  L          8.0 13  6  6  4  6


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Bethune-Cookman
0
1
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
5
10
1
Florida State
0
0
0
1
4
0
0
1
x
6
13
1
Attendance: 3,475

Florida State 9, Alabama 5
06/04/2011, NCAA, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

One To Go!

Seminoles turn back Tide with late surge to reach Regional title game.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - After a season of spectating with ace Sean Gilmartin on the mound, Florida State's offense was put to the test in Saturday night's Tallahassee Regional winner's bracket game with Alabama.

With Gilmartin laboring against the Crimson Tide, the Seminoles' bats came to the rescue, delivering a four-run sixth inning that propelled FSU to a 9-5 victory.

Rafael Lopez and James Ramsey delivered two-run singles in the sixth as the Seminoles (44-17) erased a 5-4 deficit and cruised to the finish. The victory assured Florida State, the No. 5 national seed, a spot in its fourth consecutive regional championship game.

"The first four innings obviously weren't my standard of what I want," said Gilmartin, who was roughed by the Tide. "I didn't really have my best stuff going. I didn't really have a great change-up tonight that I normally have. They hit my mistakes. ... The last three or four innings that I threw basically my thought process was, 'keep them right there.'"

Alabama (34-27) built a 5-4 lead through four innings, collecting 11 hits and five earned runs. The Seminoles' left-hander yielded a career-high 12 hits, but still found a way to improve to 12-1 on the season by settling down over his final three innings of work as the offense went to work.

For the second consecutive game, FSU's bullpen tandem of Brian Busch and Daniel Bennett finished off the Tide with two innings of hitless relief at the back end.

"[Gilmartin] just pitched four innings that were totally uncharacteristic of him," Martin said. "And yet he goes out in the fifth, sixth and seventh ... and just fights to get his team in the dugout, throws up three zeroes and our young men did a great job of scoring runs.

"That to me shows what kind of guy I have had the pleasure of coach, because there was no concern about himself on the bench. It was all about the team." The two teams traded blows from the start with the Seminoles jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first against Crimson Tide starter Adam Morgan. Singles by Devon Travis and Lopez set the table for the first of Ramsey's four RBI on the night - a line drive single to right. Alabama countered with in the first on Austen Smith's infield single and Josh Rosecrans' RBI double off the right field screen for a 2-1 lead.

Neither team showed signs of letting up. FSU used a three-run third to regain the lead on four hits, including three doubles. Travis started the surge with his 23rd double of the season and scored on Mike McGee's groundout. Ramsey beat out an infield single before Jayce Boyd and Sherman Johnson laced back-to-back RBI doubles for a 4-2 cushion.

"They have a tremendous lineup," Morgan said of the Seminoles. "We just made some mistakes and fell behind. They were very disciplined at the plate and the pitches I gave them, they took advantage of."

Alabama, however, wasn't done. The Tide countered with two runs on four hits in the third before the Gilmartin escaped further damage with an inning-ending double play and a tied score. They regained the lead in the fourth when Brent Hendricks led off with a double down the left field line, moved up on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch for a 5-4 advantage.

In a game full of big at-bats and even bigger plays in the field, including Gilmartin throwing his glove - with the ball lodged between the fingers - to first for an out, the Seminoles made the biggest plays at the plate when it mattered most. And they got some help from the Crimson Tide defense, as well.

Morgan ran into trouble in the sixth when he issued a one-out walk to Stuart Tapley and consecutive singles to Taiwan Easterling and Travis, loading the bases for Lopez, whose two-run single put the 'Noles in front 6-5.

"He [Morgan] was making me look pretty dumb," said Lopez, who struck out and popped up to center in his previous two at-bats. "I was just trying to hit the ball the other way."

But FSU's biggest break came when McGee lined out to right fielder Andrew Miller, whose throw to second would have doubled off Travis to end the inning. Shortstop Jordan Reaves, however, failed to hang on to the ball. That brought the red-hot Ramsey to the plate with runners at second and third after Morgan wild pitch.

"[Coach Martin] always talks about the fun opportunities that you have and that's one of them," Ramsey said. "You take a little sigh of breath, and even though it wasn't me hitting when the mistake happened, was like being able to go up there was almost a freebie at-bat.

"[Morgan] was getting high in his pitch count and there was another at-bat he was going to have to face. He was having to nibble against me. It was a 3-2 count, he shakes off [the sign] and goes to the fastball. I was just glad to hit it."

Ramsey roped a two-run single to center for an 8-5 lead.

"It's amazing how [it helps] if you can take advantage of opportunities and our team did just that in that particular instance," Martin said. "We were very fortunate against a very good baseball team tonight. We got a couple of breaks and took advantage of them."

It didn't hurt that Gilmartin settled down and began to hit his spots, yielding just one hit over his final three innings.

"The last three innings he threw well," said Lopez, FSU's catcher. "He was locating in. ... He was Sean the last three, four innings."

Ramsey capped his four-RBI night with a double in the eighth. Busch worked a scoreless eighth and Bennett struck out the side in the ninth to move the Seminoles within one win of advancing to a Super Regional for the fourth consecutive year.

"We are obviously excited to be in the position that we are in, but we know that this tournament is a long way from being over," Martin said. "There are two very good baseball teams who will be playing tomorrow that are capable of winning this thing, also."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        5  3  3   0  0  0  2  2
Rafael Lopez            C         4  2  2   2  1  1  8  3
Mike McGee              CF        4  0  0   1  1  1  2  0
James Ramsey            RF        5  1  4   4  0  0  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  1  1   1  1  1 11  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  0  1   1  1  1  1  2
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  0  0   0  1  1  2  2
Stuart Tapley           LF        4  1  1   0  1  0  1  0
Taiwan Easterling       DH        3  1  1   0  0  1  0   
  Parker Brunelle       PH-DH     2  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Sean Gilmartin          P                            0  2
  Brian Busch           P                            0  0
  Daniel Bennett        P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              39  9 13   9  6  6 27 11
Opp                              37  5 12   4  3 10 27  7

E - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (15)
2B - Opp-3, FSU-Devon Travis (23), James Ramsey (18), Jayce Boyd (15), Sherman Johnson (18)
HBP - Opp-1
SH - Opp-1
SB - FSU-Rafael Lopez (9)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Sean Gilmartin       W (12-1)   7.0 12  5  5  2  6
Brian Busch                     1.0  0  0  0  1  1
Daniel Bennett       Sv(16)     1.0  0  0  0  0  3
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0 12  5  5  3 10
Opp                  L          9.0 13  9  9  6  6


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
1
0
3
0
0
4
0
1
0
9
13
1
Alabama
2
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
5
12
1
Attendance: 4,008

Florida State 11, Alabama 1
06/06/2011, First five innings played on 6/5/2011, NCAA, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Quick KO For Champs.

Florida State finished off Alabama 11-1 for its 27th NCAA Regional Baseball title.

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, FL - It took Florida State just 49 minutes to put a ribbon on its 27th NCAA Regional baseball championship Monday, dispatching Alabama 11-1 in the completion of the suspended game.

The Seminoles (45-17), the No. 5 national seed, are expected to host the winner of Monday night's winner between Texas A&M and Arizona, in a best-of-three Super Regional later this week. The pairings, sites and schedules will be released late tonight by the NCAA.

Scott Sitz needed just nine pitches to sit down the Crimson Tide in the top of the sixth, picking up where Sunday starter Mike McGee left off.

It was just the quick fix the 'Noles needed to settle the overnight anxiety that came following the suspension of play due to inclement weather.

"I don't know when I've spent a night in 32 years in which I was as anxious because of the fear of losing an 8-1 lead," said FSU coach Mike Martin. "Thankfully, the players didn't know anything about it. They went out there - of course, Scotty (Sitz) just controlled the ballgame."

Sitz had the dubious task of making a pseudo-start, after McGee limited the Crimson Tide to a run on three hits through five complete innings. He learned that he would get the ball from pitching coach Jamey Shouppe with a late-Sunday phone call.

"Coach Shouppe told me we've got a seven-run; just pound the strike zone," Sitz said, adding that he kept waking up during the night because he was anxious to get back to Dick Howser Stadium.

Alabama (35-28) had scored its lone run on Taylor Dugas' solo homer to open the sixth when play was suspended. Sitz got Brock Bennett to ground sharply to third baseman Sherman Johnson on his first pitch.

"The first play of the sixth inning for us, that Sherman and JB (Jayce Boyd) made, just really relaxed all of us," said Martin. "Sherman made an excellent play on the back-hand stop and JB made a great (scoop) play at first base. That just set the tone. ... It was one of the fastest four innings we have played."

Sitz worked four innings of two-hit, shutout baseball as the sophomore right-hander needed just 43 pitches to earn his first career save.

The Seminoles weren't satisfied with maintaining their seven-run cushion. FSU continued its season-high, 19-hit assault against the Crimson Tide's fatigued pitching staff, rapping out nine more hits over the final three innings.

Tournament MVP James Ramsey picked up his third hit of the game - he batted .615 (8-of-18) - with an infield single off the first base bag, then trotted home when Jayce Boyd uncorked his sixth homer of the season. The two-run shot was the Seminoles' first of the tournament, though the team still managed to bat .398 and score 26 runs over three games.

"We were getting production from top-to-bottom all the way through (the batting order)," said McGee, who was 3-for-5 with a career-high three doubles and knocked in three runs.

Taiwan Easterling paved the way with a career-best 4-for-4 performance from the No. 9 spot in the order.

A single by Johnson and Justin Gonzalez's second RBI double of the game - the Seminoles' season-high seventh of the game - finished off the scoring.

"I just love playing with these guys," said Ramsey, after the Seminoles finished off their 13th consecutive regional victory with a brief celebration. "You are never guaranteed tomorrow, so when you get out here in a fun situation like this - postseason baseball - you are just trying to make the most of it.

"We had a lot of smiling faces in the dugout all weekend and that just keeps the pressure off."

The veteran Seminoles can now turn their attention toward getting to the College World Series for the 21st time.

Game & Regional Notes
Florida State put an exclamation point on its 27th NCAA Regional championship...FSU outscored its Tallahassee Regional opponents (Bethune-Cookman and Alabama, twice) 26-11 and out-hit them 45-27...The Seminoles established new single-game season highs with 19 hits and 7 doubles...FSU's 19 hits were the most allowed by Alabama this season...For the second time in three games - and the 8th time this season - FSU's pitching staff did not issue a walk in the regional. McGee and Sitz combined to limit the Tide to five hits and one run, with six strikeouts. The 'Noles are 8-0 in games when they do not issue a free pass...Tallahassee NCAA Regional Tournament MVP OF James Ramsey (8-for-13, .615) led five Seminoles selected to the All-Tournament team. He was joined by C Rafael Lopez (.500), 2B Devon Travis (.286), 3B Sherman Johnson (.455) and OF Mike McGee (.308).


An 'A' For Incomplete.

McGee leads FSU to cusp of regional title in suspended game.

By Bob Thomas

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida State starter Mike McGee turned in a grade-A performance in Sunday's Tallahassee Regional championship game, but was saddled with an 'Incomplete' mark when play was suspended for the night due to a severe thunderstorm.

The top-seeded Seminoles are leading Alabama 8-1 with the Crimson Tide batting in the top of the sixth inning, following Taylor Dugas' solo homer. That's where the action will resume Monday at 12 p.m. after a storm that brought lightning, heavy rain and hail settled over Dick Howser Stadium. Play was suspended at 7:45 p.m. and tournament officials called it a night around 9 p.m.

"We just thought that the decision that was made was best for all concerned," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "It was just a situation where that field was probably not going to be ready - 11:30 (p.m.) would have been the best we could have gotten the field ready to play. That's not the best for the student-athletes."

Alabama coach Mitch Gaspard, whose team advanced to the final with a 12-5 win over UCF in Sunday's mid-day heat, was in complete agreement.

"Obviously it's been a long 24 hours for us, or so," Gaspard said. "Our guys didn't get in until late last night after the ballgame and was back in the (batting) cages this morning at 10. We had a long, hot game and obviously a pretty rough first six innings. I know our guys are looking forward to getting out of here at 9:45 and getting back to the hotel for a while and getting some rest."

The Crimson Tide certainly won't mind the fresh start.

Florida State came out swinging against Alabama's depleted pitching corps and built an 8-0 lead after five innings. The 'Noles got on the board with three runs in the second, added three more in the fourth and two in the home fifth.

Meanwhile, McGee was mowing through Alabama's red-hot batting order. The Crimson Tide came into the game hitting a tournament-best .376, but managed just three hits off FSU's senior right-hander, who had three strikeouts and did not issue a walk. Dugas' leadoff homer to start the sixth spoiled the shutout bid and McGee was ahead in the count - 1 ball, 2 strikes - to Brock Bennett when play was stopped.

McGee, who will not return to the mound when action resumes, had helped his own cause by driving in three runs on two of FSU's 10 hits. Taiwan Easterling has already matched his career-high with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate against the Tide, who have already used three pitchers.

"That's obviously a disappointment because Michael was throwing very well," Martin said of McGee's performance. "That's just the nature of the beast. ... Michael was really hitting his spots and it was a shame that the rains came."

"Obviously [McGee] was pretty dominant for six innings," Gaspard added. "We dug ourselves a deep hole. We knew going in that when you come through that loser's bracket and you're down on pitching, you're going to have a special outing from a kid. I thought the guys did the best they could. Hopefully we can scratch a few (runs) and get back in it and see if we can get somebody to get some outs. Florida State is playing really well."

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  0  0   1  1  1  2  3
Rafael Lopez            C         3  1  1   1  0  1  5  0
  Parker Brunelle       PH-C      1  0  0   0  0  0  1  0
Mike McGee              P-DH      5  0  3   3  0  1  0  0
James Ramsey            RF-CF     4  2  3   0  1  0  5  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        5  2  2   2  0  0 11  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        3  2  2   1  2  0  1  3
Justin Gonzalez         SS        5  0  2   2  0  0  0  3
Stuart Tapley           LF        3  2  2   0  2  1  0  0
Taiwan Easterling       CF        4  2  4   1  0  0  2  0
  Robby Stahl           PH-RF     1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Scott Sitz            P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              38 11 19  11  6  4 27  9
Opp                              32  1  5   1  0  6 24 10

E - Opp-1
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Mike McGee 3 (16), Jayce Boyd (16), Justin Gonzalez 2 (12), Taiwan Easterling (5)
HR - Opp-1, FSU-Jayce Boyd (6)
HBP - Opp-1, FSU-Rafael Lopez (7)
SF - FSU-Devon Travis (2), Rafael Lopez (3)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Mike McGee           W (4-3)    5.0  3  1  1  0  3
Scott Sitz           Sv(1)      4.0  2  0  0  0  3
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  5  1  1  0  6
Opp                  L          8.0 19 11 11  6  4


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Alabama
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
5
1
Florida State
0
3
0
3
2
0
0
3
x
11
19
0
Attendance: 3,521

Texas A&M 6, Florida State 2
06/11/2011, NCAA Super Regional, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

FSU Falls to Aggies, 6-2.

Four-run outburst in the seventh by Aggies puts FSU behind in Super Regional play.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - A momentum-changing four-run inning in the seventh by Texas A&M lifted it past Florida State for a 6-2 victory in the first game of the NCAA Super Regional on Saturday afternoon in front of 4,602 in Tallahassee at Dick Howser Stadium.

The Aggies (46-19) began their big frame when their first two batters reached base, setting up a sacrifice bunt by Kevin Gonzalez to put two runners in scoring position with one out. The game-breaking at-bat occurred when Brandon Wood lined a leading-changing two-run single through the left side, pushing Texas A&M ahead 3-2. Kenny Jackson added an insurance run with an RBI double to right center, and Tyler Naquin added an important run-scoring single with two outs to cap the scoring in the inning.

Texas A&M added a run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Jacob House.

Aside from one big inning by the opposition, junior left-hander Sean Gilmartin (12-2) had been effective through most of the contest. The Moorpark, Calif., native threw seven innings and allowed five runs on six hits with eight strikeouts. Gilmartin moved past former Seminole Jon McDonald (1998-00) for seventh place on the school's career strikeouts list with 321. His seven innings thrown also marks the 13th time in 17 starts that he has lasted at least seven innings, and he has pitched at least six innings in every start this season.

The scoring in the seventh by Texas A&M came in response to Jayce Boyd's solo home run down the left field line to lead off the bottom of the sixth that gave FSU a 2-1 advantage. It was Boyd's seventh home run of the season and his second in as many games, looking to possibly being the game-winning shot in a game that had started as a pitcher's duel through six frames.

Junior right-hander Ross Stripling (14-2) earned the win after keeping the Seminole offense in check through most of the game. Stripling tossed seven frames and allowed two runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts.

Junior James Ramsey and senior Rafael Lopez led FSU with three hits apiece, marking Ramsey's 25th multiple-hit game this season as well as his 10th three-hit performance. Lopez also picked up his 18th multiple-hit game and his sixth three-hit performance of the year.

Altogether, FSU outhit Texas A&M, 9-7, but could not capitalize with runners in scoring position (1-for-8). FSU is now 32-8 this season when it outhits the opposition.

Texas A&M took an early 1-0 lead in the opening inning when Matt Juengel took a first-pitch offering from Gilmartin over the left field wall for his seventh home run of the season. It was just the sixth home run hit off Gilmartin this season, including his first since allowing two against Clemson on May 19.

The Aggies' lead did not last for long, as Mike McGee's long sacrifice fly to the warning track in right center brought home Devon Travis in the first inning. Travis led off the game with a lining double to right center and advanced to third base on a single by Lopez that deflected off Stripling. Ramsey followed McGee's at-bat with a single off the right field wall, but a groundout and flyout by Boyd and Sherman Johnson, respectively, ended the FSU threat.

Ramsey's first-inning single extended his streak of reaching base safely to 52 games, and stretched his current hitting streak to nine games.

In the bottom of the third, FSU made a threat to score with two outs. With Travis on first base after drawing a walk, Ramsey recorded his second single in as many at-bats, hitting a one-bagger up the middle to advance Travis to third base. Boyd, however, grounded out to third baseman Adam Smith on a slow chopper to end the frame and keep the game tied at 1-1.

Another opportunity was spoiled in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Lopez singled through the right side, and the inning was kept alive when a routine fly ball hit by McGee was dropped by Aggies right fielder Tyler Naquin to put runners on the corners. Ramsey, who already recorded multiple hits in today's contest, struck out swinging to preserve the tie.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        4  1  2   0  1  1  1  0
Rafael Lopez            C         4  0  3   0  0  1  9  1
Mike McGee              CF        4  0  0   1  0  1  3  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  0  3   0  0  1  3  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  1  1   1  0  0  7  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  0  0   0  0  1  0  1
Justin Gonzalez         SS        4  0  0   0  0  3  2  5
Stuart Tapley           LF        4  0  0   0  0  1  2  0
Taiwan Easterling       DH        3  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
  Parker Brunelle       PH        1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Sean Gilmartin          P                            0  1
  Robert Benincasa      P                            0  0
  Robby Scott           P                            0  0
  Tyler Everett         P                            0  0
  Tye Buckley           P                            0  1
  Mack Waugh            P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              36  2  9   2  1  9 27  9
Opp                              32  6  7   6  3  9 27  9

E - Opp-1, FSU-Sherman Johnson (10), Justin Gonzalez (12)
2B - Opp-1, FSU-Devon Travis (24)
HR - Opp-1, FSU-Jayce Boyd (7)
HBP - FSU-Rafael Lopez (8)
SH - Opp-2
SF - Opp-1, FSU-Mike McGee (4)
SB - Opp-1
CS - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Sean Gilmartin       L (12-2)   7.0  6  5  5  1  8
Robert Benincasa                0.1  0  1  1  1  0
Robby Scott                     0.1  0  0  0  0  0
Tyler Everett                   0.1  1  0  0  0  0
Tye Buckley                     0.1  0  0  0  0  0
Mack Waugh                      0.2  0  0  0  1  1
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0  7  6  6  3  9
Opp                  W          9.0  9  2  2  1  9


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Texas A&M
1
0
0
0
0
0
4
1
0
6
7
1
Florida State
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
9
2
Attendance: 4,602

Florida State 23, Texas A&M 9
06/12/2011, NCAA Super Regional, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Gone-zo.

Sophomore breaks game open with three-run home run; adds six RBIs.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Sophomore shortstop Justin Gonzalez's three-run moonshot in the sixth inning broke open a game that was still within Texas A&M's reach as the Florida State baseball team forced a decisive winner-takes-all game on Monday with a 23-9 victory over Texas A&M on Sunday evening in the NCAA Super Regionals at Dick Howser Stadium.

Monday's contest will begin at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

Early on, FSU looked as if it would blow the game open after taking an 8-0 lead through 2 1/2 innings. However, the Aggies (46-20) roared back with six runs in the bottom of the third, and although FSU responded with two more scores to take a 10-6 lead through four frames, it was looking for a big-time spark to create even more separation.

That's when Gonzalez stepped to the plate with one out and two runners on base in the sixth inning. Facing Texas A&M reliever Joaquin Hinojosa, Gonzalez delivered his eighth blast of the season on a deep fly ball to left field to create a seven-run lead. Gonzalez also recorded a career-high six RBIs as FSU scored its most runs in a single game since defeating Ohio State, 37-6, on May 31, 2009, in the NCAA Regional final.

Stuart Tapley, who finished 3-for-4 with two home runs and a season-high five RBIs, added to the momentum when he helped deliver back-to-back round trippers on a solo home run to left field, making it 14-6. Tapley recorded his first two-homer game since May 11, 2008 against Savannah State, and now has six blasts this year.

It was FSU's first back-to-back home-run performance since doing so against Wake Forest on March 27, when Mike McGee and James Ramsey hit consecutive shots. The 32 combined runs by both teams mark the highest of any 2011 NCAA postseason game so far.

Prior to today's contest, FSU lost the coin flip to determine the home team for game three on Monday, and will be the visitors and bat first tomorrow.

Highlighting FSU's proficient day at the plate was a season-high four home runs, with Jayce Boyd getting into the act in the seventh inning on a two-run shot to left field. Boyd finished 4-for-4 with three RBIs and five runs scored on the evening, including a double and a home run. Other multiple-hit efforts came from Devon Travis, Tapley, Ramsey, Gonzalez and Taiwan Easterling, as FSU produced 16 base hits as a unit.

The Seminole offense bolted to an early 5-0 lead after racking up four hits in the first inning. For the second consecutive game, Travis led off with a double, then advanced to third base on a wild pitch during McGee's at-bat. McGee took a hitters' count offering from Derrick Hadley and ripped an RBI single through the left side. After Ramsey was hit by a pitch, Boyd hit an RBI single to right center, and Gonzalez later recorded a sacrifice fly in foul territory to score a hustling Ramsey from third base.

Easterling finished the scoring with a two-RBI single up the middle.

In the second inning, the Seminoles (47-18) tacked on another run when hot-hitting Ramsey singled through the right side to score Travis, who led off the inning with yet another double. Travis' two-bagger placed him in the Top 10 single-season ranks at FSU for doubles with 26, joining Tyler Holt (2010), Tony Richie (2003), Tony McQuaide (2002), Marshall McDougall (1999) and Nandy Serrano (1991).

Tapley unleashed a two-run shot to left center that plated him and Gonzalez to create an 8-0 advantage.

After being held hitless through the first two innings, the Aggies trimmed their once-large deficit to 8-6 after notching four hits in the fourth inning. McGee surrendered a bases-loaded walk to Krey Bratsen, and was relieved by pitcher Scott Sitz after two innings of work. Matt Juengel then recorded a sacrifice fly to right field, followed by an RBI single from Jacob House to cut the score to 8-3. Two batters later, Kevin Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, and Brandon Wood followed with a key two-run double off the right field fence. Sitz ended the jam when he struck out Jackson on three pitches.

FSU bounced back with two runs in the fourth frame. Boyd's double to left center with one out eventually led him home on a two-out RBI single by Tapley. Boyd rounded third base and scored after Wood's throw from left field bounced off his helmet, allowing Gonzalez to also score on the errant throw after walking in the inning.

Texas A&M's Hadley (0-1) took the loss after allowing six earned runs on five hits in one inning pitched. Sitz (4-2) delivered the win for FSU, while Mack Waugh earned a three-inning save (S, 2).

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        5  3  2   0  2  1  2  3
Rafael Lopez            C         5  0  0   0  0  1  5  0
  Parker Brunelle       C         0  1  0   0  1  0  4  0
Mike McGee              P-DH      4  1  1   1  1  1  0  0
  Robby Stahl           PR-DH     2  2  0   0  0  0  0  0
James Ramsey            RF        6  2  2   1  0  1  2  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  5  4   3  2  0  6  0
  Jack Posey            1B        1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        3  3  0   1  2  1  0  1
  Sean O'Brien          3B        0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  3  2   6  2  0  1  3
Stuart Tapley           LF        4  2  3   5  1  0  2  0
Taiwan Easterling       CF        4  1  2   2  1  0  3  0
  Seth Miller           PH-CF     0  0  0   0  0  0  2  0
  Scott Sitz            P                            0  0
  Mack Waugh            P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              41 23 16  19 12  6 27  7
Opp                              36  9 12   9  6  9 27  7

E - Opp-4, FSU-Sean O'Brien (2)
2B - Opp-3, FSU-Devon Travis 2 (26), Jayce Boyd (17), Justin Gonzalez (13)
HR - FSU-Jayce Boyd (8), Justin Gonzalez (8), Stuart Tapley 2 (6)
HBP - Opp-1, FSU-Parker Brunelle (6), James Ramsey (8), Sherman Johnson (4), Seth Miller (6)
SF - Opp-2, FSU-Justin Gonzalez (3), Stuart Tapley (1)
SB - Opp-2, FSU-Jayce Boyd (10), Taiwan Easterling (6)

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Mike McGee                      2.0  2  4  4  4  1
Scott Sitz           W (4-2)    4.0  7  5  5  2  4
Mack Waugh           Sv(2)      3.0  3  0  0  0  4
                               ===================
FSU                             9.0 12  9  9  6  9
Opp                  L          9.0 16 23 20 12  6


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
5
1
2
2
0
4
2
7
0
23
16
1
Texas A&M
0
0
6
0
0
0
3
0
0
9
12
4
Attendance: 4,125

Texas A&M 11, Florida State 2
06/13/2011, NCAA Super Regional Championship, Tallahassee, Fla.
From the FSU Website, seminoles.com.

Seminoles Fall to Aggies.

Texas A&M ace Michael Wacha, six-run first inning deal Seminoles season-ending Super Regional loss.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Saving its staff ace for the decisive third game, Texas A&M rode the solid pitching of sophomore Michael Wacha and a big first inning to prevent the Florida State baseball team from earning its 21st College World Series berth with an 11-2 victory on Monday evening in the NCAA Super Regionals at Dick Howser Stadium.

Wacha (9-3) kept the Seminoles (46-19) off-balanced at the plate all evening. He scattered just three hits and allowed two runs in 7.1 innings pitched as FSU could not feed off its 23-run effort in game two of the regional.

With its top arm on the hill for the biggest game of their season, the Aggies (47-20) padded their lead with six runs in the opening inning, keeping pressure off Wacha and allowing him to just throw strikes and let his defense do the work. FSU entered tonight's contest as the top hitting team in NCAA postseason play with a .368 batting average, but finished 4-for-30 at the plate. FSU uncharacteristically batted 2-for-14 with runners on base, failing to capitalize on any hits or walks issued by Wacha.

It was an inauspicious beginning for Florida State. Starting pitcher Hunter Scantling (3-3) surrendered a single to Tyler Naquin to open the game, then allowed a walk and infield single to load the bases with no outs. Jacob House drew a free pass on four pitches to begin the scoring, as reliever Brian Busch entered the game to get out of the bases-loaded, no-out jam. Krey Bratsen advanced home on a wild pitch, and two batters later Kevin Gonzalez hit a two-run double centerfield.

Brandon Wood followed with an RBI groundout, and Kenny Jackson's RBI single to left field pushed Texas A&M to a 6-0 lead. It added two more runs in the second inning on a two-out, two-run home run by Adam Smith to left field, making it 8-0 through two frames.

FSU attempted to chip away in the top of the third inning, as Stuart Tapley continued his torrid streak at the plate with a solo home run to left field, his seventh of the season. The blast was also Tapley's third of the NCAA Super Regionals.

Second reliever Daniel Bennett entered the game with one out in the fourth inning, getting his first two batters out to end the frame. However, Bennett allowed a run in the bottom of the fifth, albeit an unearned run, on a self-induced overthrow when he faked a throw to third base and threw back to first base on a failed pickoff attempt. The throw sailed over the head of first baseman Jayce Boyd and allowed Jackson to score from third base.

The senior sidearm specialist worked a season-high 3.2 innings, eclipsing his previous high of 3.1 at Virginia on March 18. His four strikeouts matched a season high.

The Seminoles' second hit of the game came in the run-scoring variety, as Rafael Lopez' 0-2 double off the right field fence drove home Taiwan Easterling, making it 9-2.

The Aggies tacked on two runs in the bottom of the seventh, with the first coming on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch that inconclusively hit the leg of batter Matt Juengel to make it 10-2. House then recorded an infield RBI single to the right side to pad the lead.

       NAME             POSITION AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A
======================= ======== == == == === == == == ==
Devon Travis            2B        2  0  0   0  2  0  1  7
Rafael Lopez            C         3  0  1   1  1  0  7  0
Mike McGee              CF        3  0  0   0  1  2  1  0
James Ramsey            RF        4  0  0   0  0  2  0  0
Jayce Boyd              1B        4  0  1   0  0  1 13  0
Sherman Johnson         3B        4  0  0   0  0  0  1  2
Justin Gonzalez         SS        3  0  0   0  0  1  0  5
  Robby Stahl           PH        0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0
Stuart Tapley           LF        3  1  1   1  0  1  0  0
  Parker Brunelle       PH        1  0  1   0  0  0  0  0
Taiwan Easterling       DH        2  1  0   0  1  1  0  0
  Sean Gilmartin        PH        1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0
Hunter Scantling        P                            0  0
  Brian Busch           P                            0  2
  Daniel Bennett        P                            1  0
  Gary Merians          P                            0  0
                                 ========================
FSU                              30  2  4   2  6  8 24 16
Opp                              33 11 11   9  9  6 27  9

E - FSU-Daniel Bennett (2)
2B - Opp-2, FSU-Rafael Lopez (19)
HR - Opp-1, FSU-Stuart Tapley (7)
HBP - Opp-2
SH - Opp-1

       NAME                      IP  H  R ER BB SO
============================== ==== == == == == ==
Hunter Scantling     L (3-3)    0.0  2  4  4  2  0
Brian Busch                     3.1  4  4  4  4  1
Daniel Bennett                  3.2  4  3  2  3  4
Gary Merians                    1.0  1  0  0  0  1
                               ===================
FSU                             8.0 11 11 10  9  6
Opp                  W          8.0  4  2  2  6  8


  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida State
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
4
1
Texas A&M
6
2
0
0
1
0
2
0
x
11
11
0
Attendance: 5,032